3,000,000 Visits!!!

Thank You for 3,000,000 Visits!

Today is one of those days that deserves a special post: our blog has officially reached 3,000,000 visits. To be honest, I never thought we would reach this figure...

And it is not just a number. It represents hundred thousands of moments in which someone, somewhere in the world, stopped by to read an article, learn something new, find inspiration, solve a problem, or simply spend a few minutes exploring the content published here. For that reason, this milestone belongs as much to you as it does to me.

A Journey Built One Post at a Time

Over the years, this blog has covered a wide range of English Learning Topics. From practical vocabulary sheets and educational resources to grammar explantions, links to world news, recommendations and learning strategies, the goal has always been the same: to create content that is useful, interesting, worth your time, and why not fun at the same time..

Many of the most popular posts have been used to foster students' interaction, to improve learners' pronunciation and to enhance exam performance. Readers have shared their experiences, suggestions, corrections, and ideas, helping to improve their language learning strategies.

The Real Value Behind the Numbers

While reaching 3,000,000 visits is certainly exciting, the statistics itself is not the most important achievement. The real success lies in the people behind those visits. Some readers have been here for years and have followed the blog through different stages. Others discovered it only recently. Some visit regularly, while others may have found a single article or video through a search engine that happened to answer exactly what they were looking for.

No matter how you arrived here, thank you. Your support, curiosity, and engagement are what keep this blog alive and moving forward.

Special Thanks

I would like to express my gratitude to:

• Long-time readers who continue to visit and support the blog.
• New visitors who discover the site every day.
• Followers who never miss a post.
• Readers who share articles with friends, colleagues, and family members.
• Everyone who leaves comments, feedback, and suggestions.
• Those who have encouraged this project over the years.

Every contribution, no matter how small, has helped make this milestone possible.

Looking Ahead

Reaching three million visits is not the end of a journey. It is simply another chapter.

There are still many ideas to explore, topics to discuss, resources to share, and projects to develop. My commitment remains the same: to continue publishing content that aims to inform, inspire, educate, and hopefully make a positive difference for readers.

I am excited about what comes next and look forward to sharing it with all of you. 

(from the bottom of my heart) for helping this blog reach 3,000,000 visits. Whether this is your first visit or your thousandth, you are part of this achievement.
Here's to the next milestone, new ideas, new articles, and many more infographs. Thank you for reading, supporting, sharing, and being part of this incredible journey.
3,000,000 visits and counting... 🎉🎉🎉

Miguel Ángel

La Región de Murcia se queda fuera del programa de auxiliares de conversación de Inglés nativos en los colegios (y EEOOII)

El Ministerio ha llegado a un acuerdo con otras 14 comunidades para salvar el plan, que la Comunidad descarta

Today in La Verdad

Auxiliares extranjeros, en una foto de archivo durante la recepción en el Romea. Guillermo Carrión/AGM

What we are missing next academic year:

• Authentic language exposure: Language Assistants provide students with direct contact with native or near-native language, helping them improve pronunciation, listening comprehension, and natural expressions.

• Cultural enrichment: They bring first-hand knowledge of their countries and cultures, fostering intercultural awareness and making language learning more meaningful and engaging.

• Increased oral interaction: They encourage students to speak more in the target language through conversation, debates, role-plays, and other communicative activities.

• Greater motivation and confidence: Their presence creates a dynamic classroom environment, helping learners gain confidence in using the language in real-life situations.

Advice for C1 Oral Exam

This is in response to one of my students’ email 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.

Debate Technology

Think of possible questions and answers for these topics as if you had to talk about them in the interaction part.

Speaking Practice

Before getting down to the real speaking part, prepare your speech:

- Decide on the main points you want to develop.
- Select the vocabulary chunks and grammar you want to use.
- Be ready to use connectors and links between your ideas and make your points sound coherent.
- Have fillers ready to use in case you forget or don't know how to express something.

· Do some speaking practice with the following cards: Childhood memories, Describe a resort, Important moments / decisions in your life, Security measures.

· Try some the following Splendid Speaking Activities to rehearse both the speech and the interaction parts of the oral exam:
Technology, Music, Language Learning, Jobs, Environmental Concerns, Cultural Attractions, Jobs, Eating Habits, Travel, Money, People, Home Sweet Home, Work, Life, Personality, Sport and Fitness, Cinema & TV, National Festivals.

Expressions to use in spoken production/interaction- C English (By Natalialzam)

C1

Choose the expressions you think you will be using, and try to include them in your speech.

C2

In the Interaction part of the speaking exam...

C2 Speaking: Monologue & Interaction PREPARATION

Examples of phrases using C2 grammar in a suggested monologue about GM Foods. [From eoimalaga.com]

C2 Speaking MONOLOGUE Sample

C2 Speaking INTERACTION Tutorial & Language Functions Bank

C1 Speaking: Monologue and Interaction PREPARATION

Monologue: Samples and Grammar

Interaction: Samples and Language Function Bank

From: inglesmalaga.com

Oral Exam: useful phrases for interaction

 

Look at these and check here as well!

Much more about Expressing Opinion

Facts and Tips for your Orals

The Skill of Speaking

A good speaker can:

• Produce the particular English speech sounds and sound patterns, both in isolation and in combination
• Use appropriate words and intonation patterns
• Use appropriate words and structures to express intended meaning
• Recall words and structures quickly
• Organize his thoughts and ideas in logical sentences
• Adjust his speech according to his audience, situation and subject matter

From englishgrammarsoft.com 

1. Trust yourself. What you are saying is right. You prepared the topic carefully and chose phrases and structures seen in the textbook and in class which are the usual ones to talk about that specific issue. So, you should not be afraid of using them. It is not the first time you are talking about this. You have heard and spoken on this topic before.
2. You have revised the vocabulary sheets and words in context you found in the readings you have been doing throughout the year. You have chosen the necessary specific vocabulary dealing with the proposed topic. The moment you hear about it, a large number of words and phrases related to this field come to your mind.
3. You can pronounce intelligibly. Your classmates, language assistant and teacher understand you perfectly well, even though you mispronounce a few words. You try to avoid those words you are not sure to pronounce correctly. You participate in class whenever speaking is required and are not afraid of making mistakes (they are necessary to learn).
4. You have rehearsed at home and in class. You usually speak in front of your classmates, language assistant and teacher; your speech flows. You know how to deal with the time you have to do your speech/interaction. You have structured ideas and times and know your plan will work out well.

Oral Practice (by Splendid Speaking)

This entry is almost 13 years old, but still useful:

Try the following Splendid Speaking Activities to rehearse both the speech and the interaction parts of the oral exam:
Technology, Music, Language Learning, Jobs, Environmental Concerns, Cultural Attractions, Jobs, Eating Habits, Travel, Money, People, Home Sweet Home, Work, Life, Personality, Sport and Fitness, Cinema & TV, National Festivals.
Remember there are many other topics, all of which can be checked here ... and don't forget this.

C1 & C2 Oral Test Samples & Tips for Mediation

Oral production

Oral interaction

Oral mediation

Consejos para mediar fotografías, textos y gráficos

INTERACTION Useful Phrases & Expressing Disagreement and Interruption

Have a look at these two pages and underline the phrases you will use during your interaction test. Put them into practice next time you discuss some topic in class! Thanks Asun!

SAMPLE TEXT for INTERACTION Activity

Useful PHRASES for INTERACTION

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!

Possible Questions to be used in Interaction

Choose the ones you might choose to use in your interaction part of the oral exam:

Using Persuasive Language in Interaction Activities (by Natalia)

Using Persuasive Language in Interactions

Phrases to use in the Interaction part of the Oral Exam

Try to say them all ALOUD (inserted in your speech) using the right intonation (rise, fall, neutral, rise-fall and fll-rise)

Try the following Splendid Speaking Activities to rehearse both the speech and the interaction parts of the oral exam:
Technology, Music, Language Learning, Jobs, Environmental Concerns, Cultural Attractions, Jobs, Eating Habits, Travel, Money, People, Home Sweet Home, Work, Life, Personality, Sport and Fitness, Cinema & TV, National Festivals.

C1 Oral Interaction Activities

Oral Interaction Activities with many topics.