Possible Questions to be used in Interaction

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

Order and Time of Written Tests

Binomials

Binomial expressions are common English phrases that include a pair of words usually joined by “and” or “or” (e.g. black and white, plain and simple, more or less). The order of the words is usually fixed, and they are a single chunk of English vocabulary. 

Only after completing the task can you check your work here.

If you want more ... click here.

Spanish News in English

Dear readers,

The Spanish government of Pedro Sánchez faced its biggest diplomatic crisis to date this week when up to 9,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish exclave city of Ceuta. Moroccan authorities reportedly did nothing to stop the flow to punish Spain for its decision to allow a Sahrawi liberation leader to receive medical treatment in Logroño.

The crisis has since been brought under control – 5,600 people have returned home, either voluntarily or after being deported, and the Moroccan gendarmerie has secured the border. The main challenge now is accommodating the more than 780 unaccompanied minors who reached Ceuta and are now under state care.

In other big news, travelers from the UK will no longer face coronavirus restrictions when entering Spain. The order, which comes into effect on Monday, means Britons will not have to present a negative PCR test.

Meanwhile, Sánchez has announced that the mass vaccination of the 40-49 age group will begin in June. The incidence rate in Spain has now fallen below the 250-threshold considered to indicate a situation of extreme risk, but contagions are still high in regions such as Madrid and the Basque Country.

And finally, after a one-year hiatus the ¿Qué? podcast is back! This week, we talk about the epidemiological situation in Spain and the Ceuta migrant crisis.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition, and that you are staying safe.

Thanks for reading.
MELISSA KITSON

The causes and impacts of the melting Himalayan glaciers

Find out why the Himalayan mountain range is so important and why the melting Himalayan glaciers are a cause for concern. (From Future Learn Blog)

Spanish News in English: El País

Dear readers,

Spain's Covid-19 vaccination drive continues to speed ahead. More than six million people have received the two doses needed for full protection, and regions have announced plans to start vaccinating the under-50s.

As the campaign progresses, the number of Covid-19 deaths has started to fall. Eight Spanish regions recorded fewer than 10 fatalities between April 19 and 25, while weekly victims have fallen by 90% since the drive began in late December.

The good news comes after authorities called for prudence in response to the scenes of disorderly street parties that were seen last weekend following the state of alarm.

In other news, Spain is planning changes to Social Security contributions, which could lead to a multi-tiered system based on real income, rather than a fixed monthly rate.

And finally, to mark the anniversary of the 15-M political movement, EL PAÍS spoke with several historians about the importance of the social protests and their legacy today.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition, and that you are staying safe.

Thanks for reading.
MELISSA KITSON

Inversions

C2 Latin & Greek Plural Nouns

Latin & Greek Plural Nouns and see this post as well.

International Nurses Day

International Year of the Health & Care Workers 2021 

WHO Fact Sheets

Nurses Day is celebrated on 12 May every year.

How to Write a quick Essay Outline

Read last week news: El País

Dear readers,

After a tense campaign, the conservative Popular Party won a resounding victory at the Madrid regional election on Tuesday. Premier Isabel Díaz Ayuso secured more seats than the three leftist parties combined, and will be able to form a government with the abstention of the far-right Vox.

The defeat prompted Unidas Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias – who had resigned as one of Spain‘s deputy prime ministers to contest the race – to announce his departure from his roles in Spanish politics.

In the meantime, with the state of alarm set to end on Sunday, many regions are increasingly concerned about what impact this will have on efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The central government has published a decree that would give the Supreme Court the final word on restrictions that limit fundamental rights, such as the curfew, but there are complaints that more action is needed.

And finally, we spoke to Elvira Clara Bonet, a Barcelona resident who befriended ‘Gone with the Wind’ star Vivien Leigh after sending her a fan letter in 1957. Bonet, now 80, is auctioning off some 70 personal items belonging to the Hollywood legend, including unpublished photos of her honeymoon with Laurence Olivier.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition, and that you are staying safe.

Thanks for reading.
MELISSA KITSON

C1 & C2 Oral Mediation Activity

CONTEXT: Wesley is staying in Cartagena next weekend, when La Noche de los Museos takes place. He asked you for advice on which activities to visit and routes to go to. Wesley loves Cartagena's sea and history above all. You were given this extract from the programme to help him choose the activities.

TASK: Read the extract (2 mins.) and choose several activities to go to according to his likes (3 mins.). Be ready to tell him what to do on this special day (in 3 mins.).

TO BE ASSESSED: 

Task completion: Identification and selection of the information
Clarity and efficiency of the message
Adaptation of the message: intelligibility and register

C1 Advertising and Marketing Vocabulary

Of course you shouldn't learn all the words and phrases in the cloud, but just check some and include them in your active vocabulary!!!

220 Phrasal Verbs used in everyday language

 

El País Weekly News

Dear readers,

Tensions have been rising in Madrid ahead of the regional election on May 4. As the date approached, the political debate gave way to a series of ever-more concerning criminal incidents. In the past week, Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto was sent a bloody knife, Madrid premier Isabel Díaz Ayuso received a death threat letter and former PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was targeted with a package containing bullets.

In the meantime, the far-right Vox party has stepped up its campaign, promising to block access to euthanasia and abortion.

In coronavirus news, the incidence rate is holding steady and the Covid-19 vaccination drive is speeding ahead. Doubts, however, remain over what course of action should be taken for the essential workers under 60 who received a AstraZeneca dose before the vaccine was restricted to the 60-69 age group.

And finally, we looked at the discovery of the remains of a 700-year-old child in the Real Alcázar of Seville.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition, and that you are staying safe.

Thanks for reading.

MELISSA KITSON

Writing: A Report

If you haven't started with the topic suggested in the textbook yet, choose one of the following tasks  to write a 220-word report:

• More and more young people must leave Spain in order to find a job. Invent facts and figures for the last ten years and write a report based on your "imaginary" data.
• Crime rate is increasing in your area. There are more thefts, robberies and burglaries than ten years ago. Invent facts and figures and write a report based on your "imaginary" data.
• The number of young people betting on football matches results /numbers of goals scored, etc. has risen dramatically in the last five years. Invent facts and figures for the last ten years and write a report based on your "imaginary" data.
• You have given out a questionnaire to your classmates to check how happy they are with the amount of time devoted  to the 5 Language Activities (Writing, Reading, Listening, Mediation and Speaking) in class. Write a report to your teacher showing your findings and give some suggestions.

Deadline: 6th May

Ramadan: What, When And Eid

One of the most important holidays in Islam is Ramadan, a month dedicated to daily fasts from dawn until sunset. Every year (12th Apr. - 12th May this year) Muslims observe Ramadan by fasting during the daylight hours. Learn when it takes place exactly, and why it involves fasting.

And ... Relish the Spirit of Ramadan with These Essential Words

Keep on learning languages at our EOI

¿Quieres estudiar alemán, árabe, francés, inglés o italiano en la EOI de Cartagena este curso próximo?

Déjanos tus datos de contacto AQUÍ y te informaremos cuando comience el proceso de preinscripción.

 El proceso de admisión en el curso 21-22 está pendiente de publicar...

... pronto en la página web de EOI Cartagena

El País. Spanish News in English

Dear readers,

The vaccination of the age groups most vulnerable to Covid-19 is picking up speed in Spain – nearly half of the 70-79 age group and 40% of the 60-69 population have had their first shot.

The question now is what Spain should do with the more than three million Janssen doses that will be left over once the over-60s are immunized, given the tiny risk of rare blood clots among younger demographics. In this infographic special, we calculated the risks and benefits of the vaccine for each age group.

In political news, candidates for the upcoming Madrid regional election on May 4 locked horns in the first and only televised debate of the campaign. In an uncommon display of unity, the leftist nominees sought to present a common front against the incumbent premier, Isabel Díaz-Ayuso, criticizing the conservative Popular Party politician for her handling of the coronavirus pandemic. A second debate on Friday, however, quickly descended into chaos after the Podemos and Vox candidates clashed.

And finally, we looked at the Spanish ski resort that is pursuing a controversial expansion plan despite the threat of climate change.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition, and that you are staying safe.

Thanks for reading.

MELISSA KITSON

(Mother) Earth Day

 

Today is Earth Day. Together, we can prevent the coming disasters of climate change and environmental destruction.

Take a quiz (Upcycled Foods / Whale Conservation / Protect Our Species / Climate Change / Oceans and Plastic Pollution / Environmental Literacy / Deforestation and Biodiversity / Clean Energy) and learn!!!

Educator and Family Guide to Earth Day Even if you find no interesting link, which I doubt, just watching the photos is worthwhile.

What does Sustainability mean?

Sustainability is a hot topic right now. But what does it really mean, and which parts should you be paying attention to? From Future Learn Blog

Let's find answers to the questions...

Why is sustainability important?
What are the three pillars of sustainability?
What are the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and their challenges?
How can we all move towards sustainable living?
· Sustainable food and farming
· Sustainable fashion
· Sustainable technologies and renewable energy
· Sustainable transportation

... it is education that enables us to understand topics such as sustainability and climate change, and when we understand, we are able to make a difference.

C2 Have something done / passive report structures quiz

Do practise these structures here.

 

Mixed Conditionals

El País English Edition

Dear readers,

Spain's Covid-19 vaccination drive was dealt a new blow this week after the rollout of the Janssen vaccine was put on hold due to concerns over rare blood clot cases. While the goal of immunizing 70% of the adult population is still within reach, the pause may cause problems in the medium term.

In other vaccine news, Spain's regions have begun inoculating the 70-79 age group as well as people with medical conditions that make them especially vulnerable to Covid-19. Here is an overview of how the drive is progressing in each region.

Meanwhile, coronavirus cases continue to rise, with the 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants now at 202. In response to the worsening situation, several regions have called on the central government to extend the state of alarm, which is set to expire on May 9.

And finally, we looked at the "salt curse" threatening the famous cathedral in Cádiz in the south of Spain.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition, and that you are staying safe.

Thanks for reading.

MELISSA KITSON

C1 Delicious words to describe FOOD

 

What is a Migrant?

 

C1 Elllo

Improve your listening skills with Elllo. Listen to these advanced conversations without looking at the transcripts. 

Go for new topics or uninteresting issues for you -that will help you more.

C1 16 Confusing Verbs

 

Check incorrect answers and make up true sentences for you with them. 

El País News in English

ENGLISH EDITION 

Dear readers,

Spain announced this week that it will stop using the Covid-19 vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca on people under the age of 60 after the European Medicines Agency found a "possible link" between the medication and "rare cases of unusual blood clots." The doses will now be restricted to the 60-to-69 age group.

The news comes as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reiterated his government's commitment to vaccinating 33 million people, or 70% of the adult population, by the end of summer.

Meanwhile, coronavirus cases continue to rise, which is putting the country's intensive care units under mounting pressure. With the state of alarm set to expire on May 9, there are concerns the regions – which are responsible for containing the pandemic in their territories – will soon no longer have the legal backing they need to apply restrictions such as the nighttime curfew.

And finally, we went inside the first ever semi-submersible narco vessel made in Spain, which was set to transport 2,000 kilos of cocaine across the Strait of Gibraltar.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition, and that you are staying safe.

Thanks for reading.

MELISSA KITSON

6 Most Important Spelling Rules you need to know