Weekly Planning: 13th & 15th June 2023

Weekly Planning: 13th & 15th June 2023

Let's start with a game to review useful vocabulary:

After that, a video with some useful tips about spoken mediation in the EOI exams:

Later, we can have a look at different models of spoken mediation to practice:

And here you can watch a video with an example of a B1 Monologue:

And finally, some useful expressions for your dialogue:

Weekly Planning: 16th & 18th May 2023

Weekly Planning: 16th & 18th May 2023

To start with, a game about cinema vocabulary:

Then, we will correct our homework (writings) and turn them into speaking practice (monologues)

After that, we will practice with some previous years exams from the EOI (PUC):

Weekly Planning: 9th & 11th May 2023

Weekly Planning: 9th & 11th May 2023

For starters, a game to review the passive voice:

after that, some grammar. Let's have a look on how to use modals of deduction:

You can check whether you got it right with this online practice:

Next, time to learn some vocabulary about cinema:

And useful information for the EOI exams: a guide to prepare a good script for your speaking.

We will have some exam practice with these materials:

Weekly Planning: 7th & 9th March 2023

Weekly Planning: 7th & 9th March 2023

To start with, a game to review modal verbs:

Then we will correct the mid-term evaluation tests (reading, writing, mediation) 

And we mustn't forget to develop our oral skills:

Here you can find some tips for the speaking part of the EOI tests:

Remember to organize your information according to the topic.

Most likely you will use a structure like this:

Introduction

- Where you present yourself and the topic you are going to talk about.

Body

- It could be formed of several sup-parts, related to each idea we want to talk about.

        - Idea 1

        - Idea 2

        - Idea 3

Conclusion

Here we sum-up what we have told and clarify our opinion.

Remember not to include any new information here!

And don't rush to the end, normally the conclusion is what is going to remain of our speaking, so make it a good one!

Once you have your main script, it is time for you to think:

Where am I going to introduce ... ???

1. A passive 

This method was developed by ...

The castle was built in the 13th Century

I was invited to a party

2. A conditional     

If I had prepared my exam better I would have got better marks

If it rains we will not go out

You will love it if you try it

3. Some superlatives and comparatives

The sooner, the better

The most intelligent in the class ...

As light as a feather

4. Some reported speech 

It is said that, he asked me ...

5. Some relative clauses 

For definitions: it is a device which ...

6. Plenty of connectors

Therefore, thus, however, nevertheless, even though, finally, firstly, on the one hand, in contrast, ...

7. Verbs in -ING

Smoking is a bad habit, drinking & driving kills

8. Strong adjectives

Exhausted, furious, starving, impressive, awesome, gorgeous, ...

9. Idioms

To be on cloud nine, barking at the wrong tree, it's raining cats and dogs, ...

10. Perfect tenses

If I had known, by this time we will be flying, ...

11. Modal verbs

Can, could, may, might, should, will, must, ...

And don't forget to use specific vocabulary related to the topic, an appropriate register (formal/informal) and avoid "general" words such as "thing, nice, good, ..." (use strong adjectives instead)

Remember that you have 15 minutes to prepare the dialogue and the monologue that they provide you with.

Here you can find a useful video with tips about the dialogue part:

Weekly Planning: 14th & 16th February 2023

Weekly Planning: 14th & 16th February 2023

Let's start reviewing again some prepositions:

Let's check if we got it right with this game:

And this wordwall to master them all:

And since we have our first EOI exams, here you can find some helpful tips to nail your speaking test:

1. Have some ideas ready to use (ready made sentences, introductions, structures, turn taking expressions, agreement, idioms, ...)

2. Prepare and use a certain amount of high-level vocabulary (strong adjectives, adverbs, specific or topic-related vocab, ...)

3. Improve your pronunciation (be careful not to repeat basic pronunciation errors and practice using phonetics and different sources)

4. Linking words (there are never enough!)

5. Use grammar structures in accordance to the level (passive voice, reported speech, conditionals, modal verbs, infinitives and gerunds, perfect tenses, relative clauses, comparatives and superlatives, ...)

And a video with some extra tips for your monologueÇ:

Now, time to put everything into practice!

Choose one of these topics, prepare your script for 10 minutes and be ready to talk for 2-3 minutes!

Remember:

Make an introduction (Good afternoon, my name is XXX and I am going to talk about ...)

Develop the ideas in an organized way 

Use plenty of connectors (linkers)

Make an appropriate use of:

• Strong adjectives (exhausted, amazing, awesome, ...)
• Passive voice (It was built by ...)
• Modal verbs (can, could, should, must, might, ...)
• Use relative clauses for descriptions (who, that, which)
• Comparative and superlative adjectives (the more the better)
• Idioms ("Piece of cake")
• Infinitives with -ing (Smoking is bad ...)
• Phrasal verbs (get on well, bring up, carry on, ...)

Weekly Planning: 24th & 26th May 2022

Weekly Planning: 24th & 26th May 2022

Let's start with some games about Grammar & Vocabulary:

We will continue with a Listening & Reading activity:

Audio 9.1

Audio 9.2

Audio 9.3

Now it is time to improve our knowledge about Conditionals, this time with the Third Conditional:

And here you can find a video about it:

Let's practice what we have learnt with this game:

Time to learn how to use quantifiers in our conversations:

And now, time to practice our speaking skills for the incoming exams. Here you have an example of B2 monologue about "Eating habits":

And another video with useful expressions for writing/speaking:

Remember to organize your information according to the topic.

Most likely you will use a structure like this:

Introduction

- Where you present yourself and the topic you are going to talk about.

Body

- It could be formed of several sup-parts, related to each idea we want to talk about.

        - Idea 1

        - Idea 2

        - Idea 3

Conclusion

Here we sum-up what we have told and clarify our opinion.

Remember not to include any new information here!

And don't rush to the end, normally the conclusion is what is going to remain of our speaking, so make it a good one!

Once you have your main script, it is time for you to think:

Where am I going to introduce ... ???

1. A passive 

This method was developed by ...

2. A conditional     

If I had prepared my exam better I would have got better marks

3. Some superlatives and comparatives

The sooner, the better

4. Some reported speech 

It is said that, he asked me ...

5. Some relative clauses 

For definitions: it is a device which ...

6. Plenty of connectors

Therefore, thus, however, nevertheless, even though, finally, firstly, on the one hand, in contrast, ...

7. Verbs in -ING

Smoking is a bad habit, drinking & driving kills

8. Strong adjectives

Exhausted, furious, starving, impressive, awesome, gorgeous, ...

9. Idioms

To be on cloud nine, barking at the wrong tree, ...

10. Perfect tenses

If I had known, by this time we will be flying, ...

11. Modal verbs

Can, could, may, might, should, will, must, ...

And don't forget to use specific vocabulary related to the topic, an appropriate register (formal/informal) and avoid "general" words such as "thing, nice, good, ..." (use strong adjectives instead)

Remember that you have 15 minutes to prepare the dialogue and the monologue that they provide you with.

Normally you should spend 10-12 minutes to prepare the monologue and the rest for the dialogue.

You can also watch this video on how to improve your essay (writing) exam:

And to finish and chill out a bit, a song:

Dido, Thank you

Weekly Planning: 10th May 2022

Weekly Planning: 10th May 2022

For starters, a game about the use of gerunds & infinitives:

Let's continue with some grammar review about the use of the reported speech:

And now let's practice some reading & speaking with this text:

SPEAKING PRACTICE:

You have to speak about online shopping and regular shopping, providing as much information as you can about them and telling which one you prefer. You can refer to the following points:

• Advantages and disadvantages.
• Safety issues when buying online.
• How online shopping can affect the local commerce.

(12 minutes preparation / 3-5 minutes speaking)

You can use this video to get some ideas about the topic:

And now, time for some listening:

Audio 8.18

Audio 8.19