Bye February! UK /ˈfeb.ru.ər.i/ US /ˈfeb·juˌer·i/

I didn't want to leave this 2nd month of the year without letting you know about its pronunciation in American English

Blue Week Programme

It will take place between March 8 and 15, and the activities will be:

1. Garbage collection, March 8, 11:00 a.m. (you must sign up in a form that is accessed with the QR in the program).

2. Talk about "El Mar Menor" by the director of the Oceanographic Institute of Cartagena, March 11, 5:30 p.m., free attendance.

3. Guided tour of Urban Art, focusing on the Aquatic Inflexion mural on Gisbert Street, March 15, 11:00 a.m. (you must sign up with the QR in the program).

4. Mar Menor photo exhibition, from the 8th and throughout the month of March.

5. Information panels in the hall about the project and associated schools, starting March 8.

If any student has problems signing up with the QR, please write to blueschool2025@gmail.com with your information.

The activities will be carried out in Spanish so that they are accessible to all students. 

6º Premio Juventud Extraordinaria & Yoga Practice + "Dónde están ellas" Talk

From the Concejalía de Juventud (Cartagena City Council) we have been informed that applications can be submitted for the 6º Premio Juventud Extraordinaria until March 18:  

Any young person (up to 30 years old), who is studying or studied at this centre, who stood out for their work or who has an outstanding career, demonstrating talent and initiative in subjects such as sports, research, social cooperation, commitment, the environment, the arts, etc. in 2024, can be a candidate to apply for the Premio Juventud Extraordinaria 2025, endowed with €1,500. 

Find all the information HERE and for further questions or queries write to: espaciojoven@ayto-cartagena.es 

I hope the information is of interest to you and that one of our talented students wins this award.

Speaking of talents, you are all invited to participate in the activity "Dónde están ellas" that will take place next March 6 in the EOI Assembly Hall at 5.00 p.m. 

You will be greatly surprised!!!

World's most Expensive Shopping Street

Do this Guardian-Onestopenglish comprehensive activity.

Key next week

Will & Would in IF Clauses

An if- or when-clause generally does not contain “will,” One exception is when the action in the if- or when-clause takes place after that in the main clause. For example, consider the following sentence:

If aspirin will ease my headache, I will take a couple tonight instead of this horrible medicine.

The action in this sentence is the aspirin easing the headache, which will take place only after the speaker takes them later that night.

Another exception is when “will” is not being used as an auxiliary verb, but as a modal verb. In other words, “will” is permitted when it is being used to politely express willingness, persistence or a wish. For example, consider the following sentence:
I think I will warm some water for tea if you will excuse me.

The speaker will only warm up the water if he is excused by the listener.

See more EXAMPLES HERE.

Read the THEORY HERE (from Cambridge Dictionary)

Erasmus + Mobility

We are very happy to have found a centre that will welcome us to carry out an Erasmus+ mobility with a group of students. This will be Max-Weber Schule, in Sinsheim, a Baccalaureate and Vocational Training centre. The mobility is open to all English (from B1 onwards) and German students (from A2 onwards). There are 15 places. It will take place during the first half of October, so being an EOI student during the 25/26 academic year is an essential requirement to be able to participate. We send you a form to collect initial information about possible interested parties. 

• Deadline to respond to the form: Friday, March 7. 
• For further info ask Helena (Head of English Department) or Susana.

Idioms with WHITE

Resolución Alumnos Libres 2025

Those who want to certificate and are not attending EOI classes can check the details for enrolling as a candidato libre here.

3rd to 10th March

Idioms to describe people's Personality

Watch this Prezzi by Jesús (C2 EOI CT teacher).

12 Confusing English Verbs (By Lucy)

Check if you can tell the difference between these pairs.

More activities here.

Phonemic Chart & Regular Verbs Past Forms Pronunciation

It provides examples in front, middle and final position of the phonenes and voiced vs unvoiced consonants. 

REMEMBER for regular verbs past forms: 

Voiced + /d/ --> dubbed /-bd/,     charged /-dʒd/,     

logged /-gd/,     lived /-vd/,     bathed /-ðd/,     

caused /-zd/,     bombed /-md/,     listened /-nd/, 

belonged /-ŋd/,     labelled /-ld/... ; 

[vowels are voiced too] answered /-əd/, barred /-ɑːd/, 

veered /-ɪəd/,     stirred /-ɜːd/, 

bored /-ɔːd/,     blurred /-ɜːd/ ...

Unvoiced + /t/ --> stopped /-pt/,     matched /-tʃt/, 

parked /-kt/,     stuffed /-ft/,     unearthed /-θt/, 

stressed /-st/,     washed /-ʃt/ ... 

Verbs ending in "t" or "d" will take /ɪd/ --> 

decided  /dɪd/, persuaded /dɪd/ ... 

started /tɪd/, committed /tɪd/ ...

News in English EL PAÍS

Empty shelters on the border

Dear readers,

This week, an in-depth feature co-published with Puente News Collaborative shows how despite Trump’s threats of mass deportations, numerous shelters set up along the border by Mexican authorities to receive deportees remain largely empty.

We also followed the growing scandal in Argentina, where President Javier Milei is facing numerous legal complaints and a threat of impeachment after he endorsed a cryptocurrency that turned out to be a scam.

In Ukraine, our correspondent talked to soldiers on the frontlines at Chasiv Yar who are certain that Putin wants not peace, but their destruction. And our science reporter brought back alarming news from Antarctica, where avian flu is now affecting just about all animal species.

On a brighter note, the Prado Museum in Madrid has just opened a new exhibition featuring exceptional works by El Greco.

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

You can also read:

• To live and die for gold: Metals mining returns to El Salvador
• Spanish High Court fines Luis Rubiales for kissing Jennifer Hermoso but acquits on coercion charges
• Trump shakes up the United States in a vertiginous first month in office
• Life expectancy in Europe is no longer growing as it used to

Could AI help cure ‘downward spiral’ of human loneliness?

Read this interesting The Guardian article and do the suggested activities. 

KEY

Causative HAVE / GET (Revision)

More Have something done activities (and explanations). Review grammar before doing the 3-page activity.

Do these personal and impersonal pasive constructions too.

Environment Vocab

Words to use when talking or writing about the environment.

/ɒf əv/

He works five miles off of the shore. /ɒfəv/

Some gyms' staff put people off of  /ɒfəv/ them.

The jokes allowed me to put my mind off of /ɒfəv/ the exam.

Can't you get your mind off of her? /ɒfəv/

OFF	OF
Separation or disconnection	Relationship between things
Opposite of “on”	Belonging, made of, contains, or point of reckoning
Used as an adverb or preposition	Used as a preposition
Part of a phrasal verb	Can appear in numbers, percents, ages, or dates

Ditransitive Verbs

Read the picture in pdf format here.

Think Tank

Music & Performance (for teachers)

Would you ...?

 Remember to do the assimilation when you ask the questions!

and then --> /wədʒə/

... and use contractions in your answers!

Yes, I'd ... / I'd never... / 

I wouldn't ... ever!

Use CONJUNCTIONS in your writing and speech

Make your own sentences using the ones you hardly use.

Corny Jokes

Corny jokes show no new ideas or have been too often repeated, and therefore are not funny or interesting... Have a look at some and give your opinion...

News in English EL PAÍS

How America floods Mexico with weapons

Dear readers,

As President Trump doubles down on his demand that Mexico stem the flow of drugs into the US, we analyzed a related phenomenon: the river of weapons flowing into Mexico across the northern border. Between 70% and 90% of firearms in Mexico come from the US, according to the authorities. (...)

This week we also conducted a comparison of consumer prices across Latin America, and found that Argentina is the most expensive place for all kinds of everyday goods, from a cup of coffee to a parking spot, despite having very low minimum wages.

And our reporters traveled all the way to Antarctica, where they interviewed Spanish geologists who have confirmed the existence of massive methane leaks on the seabed that could potentially have very harmful environmental effects.

On a happier note, we bring you an interview with Jeff Tweedy, leader of Wilco, who says he remains optimistic about the future.

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

You can also read:

• Timeline of a tech feud: Sam Altman and Elon Musk’s 10-year rivalry
• Lily Allen, Duffy, Amy Winehouse and Florence Welch: The struggles of a seemingly cursed generation of singers
• Trump 2.0: A presidency aired live 24/7
• The ‘Huberman husbands’ phenomenon sweeping the US: Protein, diet, exercise and the far right
• World Athletics considers genetic test for athletes competing in the female category

C1 & C2 Report Writing

· Impersonal Report Structures

· Report Phrase Sheet 

· Statistical Reports (extra info)
· Writing Task (deadline 28th Feb.)

Brrr! Break The Ice With These 14 Words For Winter

Winter Words (From Dictionary.com) 

Winter Words for Frosty Fun and Learning. (From yourdictonary.com)

Find a list HERE.

Fechas convocatoria EXTRAORDINARIA Exámenes finales

Remember dates for finals (before SEPTEMBER, now JUNE):

C1: 17th June

C2: 13th June

Exams start at 16.30

Fechas convocatoria ORDINARIA Exámenes finales

Remember dates for finals:

C1: 9th May

C2: 19nd May

Exams start at 16.30

What is Love?

Select 2 Sentences and 2 Pictures and be ready to explain why you chose them next Monday with Harriet / Tuesday with Tim. 

Fall In Love With 14 Captivating Valentine’s Day Words

Advanced Mistakes Chart (By Javier Blanco)

Here’s a list of common grammatical and vocabulary mistakes often made by advanced English learners. These errors tend to be more subtle than those at lower levels but can still occur frequently.

Mark the corresponding box according to your personal experience.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE

3 Tricks to Instantly Sound British (By Emma)

C2 Musak

This video explores the rise and fall of Muzak, the background music that once filled elevators, malls, and offices. From its origins as "wired radio" to its use as a productivity tool, discover how Muzak shaped public spaces—until changing tastes left it behind.

Today's Poem

Read Today's Poem: 

#meteorology and about Lee Ann Roripaughand, her author.

How do you feel about poetry?

Giving Visibilty to Women

We are looking for female students who would like to participate in the talks that we are scheduling for 3rd to 7th March, with the aim of giving visibility to women. It can be any activity in which you have excelled, either academically or professionally, and the only requirement is that the talk is given in your language of study. At the moment, we have a student who has distinguished herself for having been the first Spaniard to cross the Atlantic Ocean by sail.

You can write your data here: Dónde están ellas. 

Complaining Politely and Disagreeing

 

Passives & Causative KEY

Check last Thursday's passive and causative activities here.

News in English EL PAÍS

‘Owning’ Gaza

Dear readers,

This week our Jerusalem correspondent analyzes Donald Trump's headline-grabbing assertion about "owning" the Gaza Strip and puts it in the context of its historical background. Meanwhile, one of our reporters in Ukraine visited soldiers on the crucial Donetsk front to find out how they see the near future, and what they feel they need to win the war against Russia.

We've also featured several interviews, including one with Bill Gates, whom we spoke to in California, and another with Auschwitz survivor Albrecht Weinberg, who made waves by deciding to return the Order of Merit to Germany over the political cooperation between the center-right and the far-right.

Back in the U.S., a foundation is digitizing the nearly 300 films that the Hearst Corporation recorded during the Spanish Civil War and were shown in American movie theaters. You can see some of these historical recordings in the article below.

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

You can also read:

• Third Man Syndrome: What is the strange presence that assists us in life-or-death moments?
• From Tiny Desk to the Grammys: Doechii’s rise from anonymity to rap royalty
• Silicon Valley’s ultra-individualist philosophy wants to conquer the world
• Traveling the world, a luxury that has surprisingly little to do with money
• Thousands of children are afraid to go to school amid deportation threats: ‘If one day I don’t come to pick you up from the bus, don’t cry’
• Does ‘liking’ everything mean you’re old?
• Roberto Ballestero Diego, urologist: ‘In the next decade there will be surgical robots for every specialty and pathology’
• Who do tariffs affect? How do they work? Trump’s tariffs explained in charts

Only for Blood Donors!

Next February 20 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. our center will host a blood donation campaign in collaboration with Hospital Nuestra Señora del Rosell.

The health workers will carry out a medical interview with the volunteers to see if they meet the requirements to donate. There will be sandwiches and drinks for donors.

Do something amazing and save a life!

Linking Adverbs

 

Relative Pronouns

Relative Pronouns and Relative Clauses (review)

C1 The Causative

 

If you don't want to revise have + sth + done and just learn new grammar, you can watch from 5'36'' to 13'36''. But I do advise to watch the whole video, which explains causative clearly and effectively.

C1 & C2 Passives and Causatives

Some grammar practice for Passives & Causatives in this file. [KEYS next Monday]

C1 Improve your listening skills for work

You will learn useful language for a wide range of business topics from talks, presentations and dialogues, as well as tips and techniques for dealing with business issues. Each recording has interactive exercises and a transcript to help you understand and use the language. [From British Council Learn English]

• Change Management
• Managing conflict
• Public relations
• Relationship-building
• Work burnout

Trump's billionaire bromance destined to fail as tycoons will face 'lambasting' if they disobey

bromance noun [C] informal UK /ˈbrəʊ.mæns/ a close, friendly, but not sexual relationship between two men romance amistoso 

tycoon noun [C] UK /taɪˈkuːn/ a person who has succeeded in business or industry and has become very rich and powerful magnate

lambaste verb [T] (also lambast) UK /læmˈbæst/ to criticize someone or something severely arremeter contra

Museum and Art Vocabulary

Art Vocabulary 1

Glossary

Art vocabulary 2

More Arts Vocabulary

Blood Donation

Expressing Opinions

100 Daily Words with British Accent

Get the pdf. document here!
 

The Palindromists

News in English EL PAÍS

No hope of survivors in deadliest US aviation disaster since 2001

Dear readers,

As rescuers continued to battle dangerous conditions in the Potomac River to search for victims of the midair collision over DC between a passenger plane and a military helicopter, we used graphs and charts to analyze what we know so far about the tragedy.

The week began with an event that is already being described as a technological and even a geopolitical milestone, after users all over the world massively downloaded China's AI app DeepSeek, which was reportedly developed at a fraction of the cost of its American rivals.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump continued to implement his plans for mass deportation. We spoke with migrants in Chicago who are afraid to go out on the streets, and with Colombian deportees who say they are not criminals.

We also bring you an interview with a theoretical physicist who explains the practical applications of his research, and a feature on a Spanish couple that owns the largest vineyard in Ireland, where they hope to popularize wine in the country of beer.

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

You can also read:

• Groundhog Day: The European origin of the American tradition
• Zombieing: How to deal with an ex who ‘resurrects’ on your phone
• The 70-year-old fraudster who has been ripping off huge companies for three decades
• DeepSeek is no game: The dangers of China’s new AI
• Are dogs or cats smarter?
• Greenland: The land of suicides
• Data | Who are the more than 11 million migrants Trump plans to deport?

The Weather

Let's start with some general words; then some collocations (both from CALD 3rd edition). We will carry on with a dazzling activity prepared by Javi (English EOI teacher). Finally, more vocabulary about Natural Disasters and a reading comprehension activity by The Guardian Weekly, key included ...... we may as well look on the bright side!!!