Class update 27.1.16

Speaking	Did the writer hav a happy or unhappy childhood?
Listening	Pair work discussion of reading questions
Reading	Page 58 & 59 Techniques for reading activities. Exercise 4, 1-6 & Ex 5
Writing
Grammar	Page 60 Used to / get used to / would Ex 1 & 2
Vocabulary
Other
Homework	Review Units 1-6, p 48 & 49.  Writing folder 4, p62 & 63. This is on writing essays, which will be the writing task in the progress test. Do not do question 6, the complete essay.

Monday May 16th is a holiday.

Hello, everyone.

There's been a change to the CSIM calendar, so that Monday May 16th is a holiday.

Monday / Wednesday groups will now end on Wednesday 25th, instead of Monday 23rd. (See link)

https://www.ucm.es/csim/noticias/calendario-curso-2015/16

FCE reading and listening tasks.

Hello, everyone.

Here's a link to the Flo-Joe page where you can practice the typical FCE reading tasks:

http://www.flo-joe.com/fce/students/tests/

and another for listening tasks:

http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_listening3.htm (For the audio, click on 'Listening' in the blue box to the right.)

These are closely related to the kind of tasks you'll find in our progress test. 

Let me know how useful you found them.

See you in class.

Tom.

CLASS UPDATE 25/01/2016

Speaking	Which sports would you consider to be extreme or dangerous? Why? Have you ever tried or watched a dangerous sport? What was it?
Listening	Page 54 Ex 3
Reading	Page 57
Writing
Grammar
Vocabulary	Dangerous sports Page 54
Other	We corrected Page 54 Ex. 7
Homework	Page 58 reading (Only read)

FCE exam techniques.

FCE exam techniques.

Hello everyone.

As promised, here are some suggestions to help you save time and get better results for the FCE exam questions.

Exam techniques.

Word Formation:

First predict the form of the missing Word. Is it a verb, an adjective, a noun perhaps? This may seem like a waste of time under exam pressure, but it will get you better marks. Answer everything.

Gapped reading:

1.      Read missing phrases.

2.      Skim text, underlining anything that seems connected to the missing phrases

3.      Now complete the gaps which seem clearest.

4.      Finally, read the paragraphs you haven’t completed, paying special attention to the sentences immediately before and after the gaps.

5.      Remember to answer everything. Even if you’re guessing, you may be right.

Reading: (See suggestions in SB p.58-60)

1.      Read the questions carefully, they test detailed understanding.

2.      Skim the text, underlining anything that seems connected to the questions.

3.      Now answer the questions that seem clearest to you.

4.      Look for the sentences specifically related to the questions you haven’t answered yet. (They are asked in the same order as the paragraphs in the text.)

Listening – Sentence completion:

1.      Before listening, read the questions, and underline the key points.

2.      During the first listening, take notes.

3.      During the second listening, confirm.

4.      Answer everything: you don’t lose points for a wrong answer.

Writing:

Refer to all the notes + an idea of your own.

Take time to plan. You’ll write a more coherent essay.

Use linking words and phrases. You’ll sound much more fluent.

Compare and contrast ideas.

Remember structure: include an introduction, separate your ideas into paragraphs, and come to a conclusion, (of more than a single sentence!)

U7.1 Ing Vs infinitive verb list

It's not very pretty, but it's a good reference page to help you decide between ing or infinitive.

Unit 7.1 Practice using ing / infinitive.

Hello, everyone.
Here's an activity we used in class to practice using ing / infinitive. 
Decide whether the sentences are correct or wrong, and correct the ones which are wrong.
You'll find the answers below, (plus a few extra.)

JENNY SUGGESTED TO GO TO THE PARTY BY TAXI. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I DON’T MIND TO DO IT. I’M INTERESTED IN LEARN SPANISH. MY BROTHER WANTS TO GO TO JAPAN. I’LL HELP YOU WHEN I FINISH TO WRITE MY LETTER. I’M USED TO DO THE WASHING UP I’M GOING TO TOWN FOR BUY NEW SHOES. I OBJECT TO PAY TO PARK MY CAR. I CAN’T AFFORD TO LENDING YOU ANY MORE MONEY. I’VE ALWAYS ENJOYED TO TAKE RISKS. I HATE TO SHOP AT CHRISTMAS. DO YOU ENJOY COOKING? I TRY AVOIDING ARGUMENTS IF I CAN. I JUST LOVE PLAYING WITH MY SISTER’S KIDS.

JENNY SUGGESTED TO GO TO THE PARTY BY TAXI. (suggested going)

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE. (to hearing)

I DON’T MIND TO DO IT. Don’t mind doing)

I’M INTERESTED IN LEARN SPANISH. (in learning)

MY BROTHER WANTS TO GO TO JAPAN. (Correct)

I’LL HELP YOU WHEN I FINISH TO WRITE MY LETTER. (finish writing)

I’M USED TO DO THE WASHING UP. (to doing)

LET ME MAKE THE TEA. (Correct)

THE CHILDREN WERE MADE TO GET OUT OF BED. (Correct)

I’M GOING TO TOWN FOR BUY NEW SHOES. (to buy)

I OBJECT TO PAY TO PARK MY CAR. (to paying)

I CAN’T AFFORD TO LENDING YOU ANY MORE MONEY. (to lend)

MY SISTER’S TOO SMALL TO BE A POLICE OFFICER. (Correct)

I’VE ALWAYS ENJOYED TO TAKE RISKS. (enjoyed taking)

IT PUTS SOME EXCITEMENT IN MY LIFE. (Correct)

I HATE TO SHOP AT CHRISTMAS. (hate shopping)

DO YOU ENJOY COOKING? (Correct)

I TRY AVOIDING ARGUMENTS IF I CAN. (try to avoid)

I JUST LOVE PLAYING WITH MY SISTER’S KIDS. (Correct)

English courses for your friends and family!!

Know anyone who's looking for an English course, but hasn't got all year? 

The CSIM also offers 4-month courses in general English and exam preparation between February and May.

Find out more below.

CLASS UPDATE 20.01.2016

Speaking	Discuss the pros and cons of doing sport (for example, if you practise sport probably you have a good mood Vs. If you practise sport you have to spend money on the equipment).
Listening
Reading
Writing
Grammar	1.  GERUND & INFINITIVE  - Like / Dislike - Say / Think                           +   -ING.  - Start / Finish / Go on ...        2.  Used to + -ing  ≠  Used to + inf.        3. Verb + preposition (Ex. 8 page 53)            - Accused of            - Difficulty in             - Advised to
Vocabulary	Page 53 ex. 7
Other	HOMEWORK IN CLASS: exercise 7 and 8 (page 53)
Homework	Page 54 ex 7 * Look the pages 48 - 51 units 1 - 6 revision.

Progress test practice: 'Key' Word Transformation on line.

This is one of the tasks you'll be asked to do in our February progress test. Here's some online practice!
Tip: If you get any wrong, it's a good idea to go back and try them again the following day.

http://www.flo-joe.com/fce/students/tests/2_strtest3.htm

CLASS UPDATE 18/01/2016

Watch the video and answer the questions below.

Watch the video and answer the questions below.

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar-vocabulary/grammar-videos/verb-ing-or-verb-infinitive

S1 Qs for B.C. Inf Vs Ing video. Ollie’s upset. 1.     Why do the others think Ollie is upset? 2.     What’s really the matter? 3.     What did he want to do? 4.     Where did he want to go? 5.     What does Alfie suggest? 6.     Who calls? 7.     What does she ask Ollie? 8.     What’s he going to learn to do? 9.     Is he still upset?

British Council on inf Vs ing

British Council on inf Vs ing

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar-vocabulary/grammar-videos/verb-ing-or-verb-infinitive

Stage 1 Exam techniques

Hello, everyone.
As mentioned in yesterday's class, here are my suggestions on how to handle a number of the First Certificate exam activities. They're designed to save you time and get you better marks, so please refer to them when doing any of the avtivities for HW or in class.

                          FCE Exam techniques.

Word Formation:

First predict the form of the missing Word. Is it a verb, an adjective, a noun perhaps? This may seem like a waste of time under exam pressure, but it will get you better marks. Answer everything.

Gapped reading:

1.      Read missing phrases.

2.      Skim text, underlining anything that seems connected to the missing phrases

3.      Now complete the gaps which seem clearest.

4.      Finally, read the paragraphs you haven’t completed, paying special attention to the sentences immediately before and after the gaps.

5.      Remember to answer everything. Even if you’re guessing, you may be right.

Reading: (See suggestions in SB p.58-60)

1.      Read the questions carefully, they test detailed understanding.

2.      Skim the text, underlining anything that seems connected to the questions.

3.      Now answer the questions that seem clearest to you.

4.      Look for the sentences specifically related to the questions you haven’t answered yet. (They are asked in the same order as the paragraphs in the text.)

Listening – Sentence completion:

1.      Before listening, read the questions, and underline the key points.

2.      During the first listening, take notes.

3.      During the second listening, confirm.

4.      Answer everything: you don’t lose points for a wrong answer.

Writing:

Refer to all the notes + an idea of your own.

Take time to plan. You’ll write a more coherent essay.

Use linking words and phrases. You’ll sound much more fluent.

Compare and contrast ideas.

Remember structure: include an introduction, separate your ideas into paragraphs, and come to a conclusion, (of more than a single sentence!)

CLASS UPDATE 13/01/2016

Speaking	Which is your favourite and least favourite celebrity? What three things would you do if you won the lottery?--> Exercise for Grammar
Listening
Reading	Page 40 Ex. 3, Page 41 Ex. 4
Writing
Grammar	Conditionals with If and Conditionals with Unless Page 42 Ex. 2-3
Vocabulary	Word Formation: Page 41 Ex. 8
Other
Homework	Pages 42-43 Ex. 4-5-6

CLASS UPDATE 11/01/2016

Speaking	The best and the worst of Christmas Being famous? 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages
Listening
Reading	Open Cloze Exam folder 3. Paper 1 part 2 p. 38-39 Ex. 1 & 3 EXAM ADVICE.
Writing
Grammar
Vocabulary
Other
Homework	Exercise 37, posted on 16/12/15 http://www.englishforeveryone.org/PDFs/Past_Tense_Exercise_37.pdf Open Cloze: exam tips http://www.flo-joe.com/fce/students/tests/2_oclts3.htm

Exam practice: Open cloze (Paper 1 Part 1)

This is a link to our old friend, Fol-Joe, to practice the exam activity we saw in class today, 11.1.16.

S1 Exam folder 3 Paper 1 Part1 Open cloze (Flo-Joe)

http://www.flo-joe.com/fce/students/tests/2_oclts3.htm

Progress tests on February the 10th and 15th.

Progress test February: 10th and 15th.

Hello, everybody. Happy New Year.

Here's another reminder that next month we have progress tests on  February the 10th and 15th. 

The exam will be based on FCE-type activities and on the material we've covered in class, units 1-10 approx. 

Attendance is compulsory, since this progress test is worth 30% of your final grade, which is why we want you to know the dates well in advance.

See you all on MOnday.

T