Alba's free time

When the Weather let's me I practice outdoor sports such as hiking, climbing, and in summer, when I travel to the coast, I practice snorkeling. Now it comes the bad weather and I don't  feel like leaving home, so I like doing crafts: I painted the walls of my daughter's room with pictures of The Little Prince, I'm sewing a rug that looks like a zebra,and I'm learning to make fairies, which are made with natural wool.

 Now that Christmas is coming , the fairies are a good gift, if you do not know how to make them, you can buy them.

If you want you can see more in hadas.lananatural@facebook.com

Patri's free time

What I most like doing in my free time is to be relaxed because I usually have a lot of work. So, as I think that it's very unhealthy not to do any sport, two years ago, I took up to practise yoga, because I used to go to the gym every day when I was a teenager but as I was taking part in an  aerobic competition it took me a lot of time so it was impossible for me to be studying and doing that. Although that doesn't mean that it went off me.

Another thing that I like so much it's going out with friends, at least to have a beer or a coffee. Also I like to go to the cinema but I'm not always able to do it, so I see the films on the computer. One of the things that I like but I'm unpatient because of the queues it's to go shopping, I can't stand being, for at least, fifteen minutes waiting to pay. And finally, something that I'm going to do early it's to set off to Italy with my little cousin.

Nieve's free time

MY FREE TIME

In my free time I enjoy doing a lot of activities. I love to go out with my friends to the disco pubs at weekends where we can tell each other what happened during the week and we can dance because in these places they usually have beautiful music. I enjoy going to the cinema once a week so that I can watch a good film.

I like shopping once a week to buy new clothes.

I would like to learn English to turn this into reality so I put my name down for a course but my level is bad as I want to catch up with others classmates and I 'm studying very hard.

I’m learning to cook because I love all kind of foods and I enjoy making them.

I’m looking forward to go sightseeing in other countries  but for the moment It’s impossible for me since I’m not independent  because I haven’t got a job and I can’t afford it.

I join in when my friends often play chess.

I must go to the gym because I’m unfit but I don’t do it.

Happy Halloween: Story 1

Scary Story: Curiosity killed the boy
by Francisco Javier Sánchez

It was midnight. Peter went to the loft. His parents had bought a new mirror. It was a damned MIRROR.It would turn people into stone. Peter´s parents told him NOT TO LOOK IN the mirror at midnight because it turned people into stone. Hi didn´t believe that was true. HE opened the door and went in the loft. The mirror was covered with a sheet. HE took the sheet and LOOKed IN THE mirror. IN THAT (moment he saw a ghost appeared in front of him IN THE MIRROR and turned him into stone.
The next day Peter´sparents woke up and went to Peter´s bedroom. He wasn´t  IN HIS ROOM.They went to the loft and screamed. They saw his SON turned into Stone and a sentence on the mirror. It said “CURIOSITY KILLED THE BOY”.

Happy Halloween: Story 4

Scary story
by Jessica González

You Can't Get Out

One dark, windy night, the town drunk was going down his way home after the bar closed. He turned around and ended up walking through the churchyard instead of taking the road home.

The wind picked up and he thought he could hear a voice calling his name. Suddenly, the ground opened up in front of him, and he fell down.He could hear the voice clearer now, calling him. He knew it was the devil.

The hole was very deep and inside it was black. His eyes adjusted to the darkness after a few moments, and he made out a form sitting in the darkness with him. It called his name, and he scrambled away in fear, trying to climb out of that terrible grave. Then the figure spoke. "You can't get out," it said.

The drunk gave a shout of pure terror. He caught the edge of the hole in his hands, scrambled out, and ran for home as fast as he could go.

Inside the open grave, his friend John sighed in resignation. He'd fallen into the hole a few minutes before his friend and had thought that together they might help each other climb out. Now he was going to have to wait until morning and get the mortician to bring him a ladder.

Happy Halloween: Story 3

Scary story
by Patricia Díaz

Until the moment that I’m going to tell you now, my experience with spirits hadn’t been special, only the feeling that “someone” touched my feet, put its hands on my back or the feeling like when someone sit down next to you… However, I wasn’t the only person who had these experiences, since my best friend had experienced something similar to me.

We didn’t give it much importance… but last year, the previous days to Halloween I remembered that she and me had some strange dreams, because all that we dreamt, it happened the next day. I remembered some of them; if we dreamt an accident in a certain road , it happened; if we dreamt that a house in our village was burnt; this same night the house was burnt or if we dreamt that a person was dead, the next day this person was dead. It was a really difficult week for us, since all that was really incredible. But that’s nothing for all that came on Halloween night.

We were with all our friends in a cottage, where we had dinner and spent some hours talking. It was in that moment when we saw a shadow that was coming towards us, I didn’t know what to do and I saw my friend that she had the same face as me… We were terrified because anyone else saw how the shadow was walking through all of us and then it went away…

As we couldn’t talk about it we went to our homes to sleep… but it was when we had very different experiences! Next morning she phoned me very nervously because that night she had listened and saw how the static bicycle pedals were moving quickly and quickly and no one was in it! She ran to sleep with her sister. The other part is mine… I remembered yet how that night I was sleeping in my bedroom when I felt that my soul went out of my body and started to walk along the corridor following a static light that was in my dining room. As I was walking I remembered that I felt scared and then I went back to my room, and it was in that moment when I realized that my body was in my bed sleeping with my pyjamas and all was in the same place than when I felt asleep. In a few minutes, I felt a strange strong in my body and then I woke up, but I couldn’t speak or move myself during above five minutes.

I think that we had never forgotten these experiences but, thankfully, they stopped soon.

Have you ever had any of these experiences?

Happy Halloween: Story 2

Scary story

by Alba

 

Two years ago, about this same date, I was going back home, later than usual and when I arrived to the junction where my exit is, I saw a young girl in a long party dress.

The weather was very bad; it was raining a lot (it was raining cats and dogs). I stopped to pick her up, I asked her if she lived near, she was a neighbour. She looked sad and I didn´t want to ask why. In a few minutes we arrived to her home. When I looked to my side her seat was empty, She wasn´t here, I didn´t believe IT, there was not anyone in the street, I didn´t hear the door open or close. How did she disappear?

I got out of my car very afraid. I went to the only house of the street that wasn´t decorated for Halloween. In the rest of the houses little witches and bats hanged on the windows and jack-o-lanterns lighted the night.

I knocked on the door and an old and tired man opened.

- Excuse me! Perhaps you don´t believe me, ten minutes ago I picked a young girl on my way to enter the town, she was wearing a party dress, she gave me this direction but we arrived…

-Yes, I know, she was my daughter, maybe you don´t believe me. (The old man touched his face). She died three years ago and from that day her ghost appears to come back home.

Homework (From 22/10 to 27/10)

Hello everybody!
How are you? I hope everything is ok.
Click on the following links and let's practice some English!
See you on Saturday
Maite

Grammar (many,not much, a lot of...)

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/elementary3/grammar/file09/grammar09_b01?cc=global&selLanguage=en

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/elementary3/grammar/file09/grammar09_b02?cc=global&selLanguage=en

Reading

Leisure time topic: Playing chess
http://englishteststore.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3018:English-Pre-Intermediate-Reading-Comprehension-Test-001&catid=133:english-reading-tests&Itemid=382

Health topic: Catching a cold
http://englishteststore.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3019:English-Pre-Intermediate-Reading-Comprehension-Test-002&catid=133:english-reading-tests&Itemid=382

Science topic: Dinosaurs
http://englishteststore.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3021:English-Pre-Intermediate-Reading-Comprehension-Test-004&catid=133:english-reading-tests&Itemid=382

Travelling topic: Flying
http://englishteststore.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3028:English-Pre-Intermediate-Reading-Comprehension-Test-011&catid=133:english-reading-tests&Itemid=382

Answer the following questions please:
Which text was more interesting?
Have you learn new words by reading these texts and using your dictionary? What words have you learn?
Do you like reading newspapers and magazines in Spanish? What topics are the most interesting when you read the newspaper?

Leave a comment on this entry!

Listening

Click on the "play" symbol on the ipod. Don't forget to read the script when you finish
http://www.soundsenglish.com/best1.html

Homework (from 16/10 to 20/10)

Hello everyone!
You can start your homework as soon as you have time.
See you Saturday
Maite

Grammar
Exercises from Lesson B & Lesson C

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint/a_grammar/file01/?cc=global&selLanguage=en

Before doing the Continuous exercise, please read the list of verbs that are not normally used in the Continuous because they are not ACTIONS, the are states.

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/support-files/stative-verbs-list.pdf

Prepositions

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/vocabulary/bank01/vocab_prepositions_02?cc=global&selLanguage=en

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/vocabulary/bank01/vocabulary01_01?cc=global&selLanguage=en

Reading & PET exam practice

Lesson1B, 1D and Revise&Check

Instructions:

Click here: http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint/g_ef_pre_builder?cc=global&selLanguage=en

Go to select a lesson

First do 1B, then 1D and finally Revise&Check

Read the text at least twice.

And now...exercise your memory!!

Click "Remove 25% of the words"

Try to remember the words!

If you have a REALLy good memory you can click 50%

Answers

Homework (from 8/10 to 13/10)

Hi everybody!
Are you ready to do some listenings?

Listening practice:

Fill the gaps (exam practice)
Topic: restaurant review
http://www.english-online.org.uk/petfolder/test2/petlisten3.php?name=The%20Listening%20part%203

Multiple choice (exam practice)
Topic: morning routines
http://www.elllo.org/PagesMixer/57-MX-Morning.htm

Topic: favourite season
http://www.elllo.org/PagesMixer/51-MX-Season.htm

Topic: describing your hometown
http://www.elllo.org/PagesMixer/45-MX-BadTown.htm

Grammar practice:

Write three different columns (on for AT, one for ON and one for IN)

3:00pm

Monday

 2007

 noon

4 November

 the past

May

Christmas Day

sunset

my birthday

Fridays

 

the moment

bedtime

sunrise

the third 

 the future

 four-twenty

the 1990's

past years

midnight

Many or much?  a few or a little? In other words, are these words countable or uncountable? Classify the following words please. Remember, a word is countable if you can put a number before the word. For example, you can put the number "five" before the word "coins" but you can't put it before the word "money", so "coins" is a countable words and "money" is uncountable.

money dollar child view music job news scenery suitcase

happiness luggage table journey furniture electricity progress battery

advice bottle tip report trash information banana

Have a fantastic week!

 

 

Nava (Asturias)

Written by Jessica Gonzalez

I live in Nava, it's a small village in the North of Asturias, it's a beautiful village. It's a very calm and wonderful village because Nava has 3.500 habitants.
In my village I have many places to rest and relax, because Nava has many green zones, parks, etc and you can practice jogging, horse-riding, photography and stretching your legs around the fantastic mountains.
Nava is very good comunicated with the most important cities in Asturias, you can arrive to Oviedo in 15 minutes.
When people come to my city the first monument they visit is the museum of cider. Cider is the typical drink in Asturias. In the first day of the summer you can enjoy in the "Sidra's Fest".
In that day you can eat very good food in the different restaurants in the zone. At night you can drink cider in different special bars in the central park.
I recomend to visit Asturias.

Have you ever been to Asturias?

And now, the comments!

Los Cristianos (Tenerife)

Written by Yanet Ferrera

I live in the Canary Islands in South Tenerife.Los Cristianos is a fishing village, the people who come here say is a paradise for its fantastic temperatures and its amazing beaches. If you come to South Tenerife you can enjoy exciting excursion by ship to see whales and dolphins or practise surf, or any aquatic sport that you want.

In my village fresh fish is very famous, you can enjoy this typical Canary food in any restaurant, at weekends there are many food markets with organic fruit and vegetables.

Would you like to live in a town by the sea?

And now, the comments!

Santiago de Compostela

Written by Nieves Otero

Santiago de Compostela

I live in Santiago de Compostela. This is a wonderful city of Galicia.
My beautiful city has two parts which are the following:
One is called “Zona vieja” because it has cobblestone streets and old buildings.
The other part is called “Zona nueva” because it has concrete streets and modern buildings.
When the people come to my city the first monument they visit is the fantastic Cathedral, in fact there is several pilgrimage routes to come here.
If you want to try the typical Galician seafood and wines I recommend you to go to any restaurant of the “ Zona vieja “, I haven’t any favorite restaurant because they are all very good.
At night I recommend you to go to the bars and disco pub of the “Zona vieja” because they are very original and pleasant.
If you want to go to the beach in Santiago you can’t because there isn´t but that is the only thing missing to be perfect.

Have you been to Galicia?
How was your experience?

And now, the comments!

Sax (Alicante)

Written by Patricia Díaz

I live in a village called Sax. It is near Alicante and, although it is a small village, I think that it is a wonderful place to live because of the calm. Here, the first thing that you have to visit is the castle because it is fantastic and the views of the village and the countryside are incredible. Also, another typical thing to see is our " Moros y Cristianos Festivals". They are celebrated in winter, from 1st to 5th of February and, although there are people who think that they can be a bit boring I think you could like them.
However, here we don't have a lot of places to go out at night, but if you prefer going out to have lunch or dinner you can choose one of the bars that you are going to find here, but I recommend you "Delitapas". This bar, as its own name says is of "tapas"and you can eat very well and it's an economic option. At night if you like going clubbing you can go to "Sunami". It is a club where you can spend a good time with your friends or meet new people and have a drink.
Well, would you like to visit Sax? So, you're invited!!

Have you ever been to Alicante?
Would you like to live in a quiet and peaceful village?

And now, the comments!

Seseña (Toledo)

Written by Alba

Since January I have lived in a village of Toledo, called Seseña.I don´t like it. Seseña is very big, but it is bad communicated now, it hasn´t a train station, and the buses only go to Madrid City. Seseña is very quiet; this is the best of Seseña because I can sleep until very late. Seseña is divided in three parts, Old Seseña, New Seseña and The Quiñon. It has an indoor pool, a sport centre, and several supermarkets and industrial estates. Seseña has a little castle, The castle of Puño en Rostro, Don´t you think it´s a funny name?. The summer in Seseña is very hot and the winter is very cold. I think Seseña isn´t a place to visit, but is an excellent place to live. It´s surrounded by smalls pine forest, I love walking in the woods collecting pine cones. The village is near Aranjuez, a city which has a very important cultural heritage, I recommend you to visit it.

What other villages in Spain have medieval castles?
Do you think castles are interesting?

And now, the comments!

Salamanca

Written by Francisco Javier Sánchez


I live in Salamanca. It´s a beautiful city. People like visiting my city because it´s a wonderful city. I recommend you to visit the Plaza Mayor in the morning. Later you can eat in Zaguán which is my favourite restaurant. I think it has fantastic food. In the evening you should go to watch the New and Old Cathedrals. At night you can go to drink a rum and coke to Garamond Pub or Cum Laude Disco, because they are two fashionable places in the city and the employees are pleasant.

Have you been to Salamanca?
If so, do you like this city?
If you haven't been to Salamanca, would you like to go?

And now, the comments!

Homework (from 30/9 to 6/10)

Hi everyone!
I hope you all had a great weekend!
Are you ready to do some work?
I hope so.

Writing homework (it includes new vocabulary):
Since we are all from different parts of Spain I want you to send me a description of the city or town (or village) where you live. It should be no longer than 120 words. You should recommend places to visit during the day, your favourite restaurant and somewhere to go at night

Phrases&Vocabulary&Grammar you must use:

• Use the Present Simple ( I live in ..., It is a beautiful city, People like visiting my city because.., When people come to my city the first monument they visit is the ...)

• Use some of the following words
  Places: Town and City
  airport
  bridge
  bus station
  bus stop
  car park
  city centre
  fountain
  market
  motorway
  park
  pavement
  playground
  road
  shopping centre
  square
  station
  subway
  underground
   
• Since you are going to give your opinion about the best places to visit in your city, use some of these adjectives

Personal Feelings, Opinions and Experiences

(Adjectives)

amazing

amusing

boring

brilliant

exciting

fantastic

noisy

normal

old-fashioned

ordinary

original

pleasant

special

strange

terrible

typical

unusual

wonderful

After the necessary corrections I'll publish your descriptions on the blog so that we can all learn things about your hometowns and write comments about them, ok?
 Listening
Understanding personal information about someone.
Step 1: Watch the video twice to get the general idea.
Step 2: Read the questions
Step 3: Watch the video again and try to answer the questions
Step 4: Watch the video again and take the quiz
Step 5: Leave a comment on this entry and let me know how many answers you had right!

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/famouspeople/beyonce/beyonce-listening-quiz.html

 

 

Understanding the lyrics of a song. Last Saturday I told you about the importance of music to improve your listening and how much your fluency will improve by singing! So this is a link for a song by the Irish band Westlife. I love Ireland! And I love Irish music & singers. The present simple is the tense that is used in this song.
Listen to the song as many times as you need and then fill the gaps. When you finish you can check your answers by looking up the lyrics online. And then... start singing!

http://www.efl.net/caol.htm

Westlife 


When I am ____ and, oh my ____, so _____; 
When ________ come and my _____ burdened be; 
Then, I am still and wait here in the _______, 
Until you come and sit a _____ with me. 

You _____ me up, so I can stand on _________; 
You _____ me up, to walk on ______ sea; 
I am ______, when I am on your shoulders; 
You _____ me up...
To more than I can be. 

You _____ me up, so I can stand on _________; 
You _____ me up, to walk on ______ sea; 
I am ______, when I am on your shoulders; 
You _____ me up...
To more than I can be. 
You _____ me up, so I can stand on _________; 
You _____ me up, to walk on ______ sea; 
I am ______, when I am on your shoulders; 
You _____ me up...
To more than I can be.

You _____ me up, so I can stand on _________; 
You _____ me up, to walk on ______ sea; 
I am ______, when I am on your shoulders; 
You _____ me up...
To more than I can be. 

You _____ me up...
To more than I can be.

Reading

Fill the gaps:

http://englishteststore.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=662:Fill-The-Blank-Pre-Intermediate-Test-024&catid=116:fill-the-blank&Itemid=364
 

Don't forget to leave some comments! Have a good week!

 

 

Answers for the listening

 

1

1                    Paul Rogers

2                    engineer

3                    4 a.m. to 12 p.m.

4                    arrive late

5                    morning person

2

6                    B

7                    C

8                    A

9                    A

10                A

 

 

1     Listen to this street survey. For questions 1–5 complete the table.

[I = Interviewer, P = Paul]

I          Excuse me sir, can I ask you a few questions?

P          Err, what about?

I          We’re doing a survey to see if people are morning or evening people.

P          Oh, OK. That sounds interesting.

I          Great. Thanks. Could you tell me your name?

P          Yes, it’s Paul Rogers.

I          Paul Rogers. Is that R-O-G-E-R-S?

P          Yes.

I          So Paul, what do you do?

P          I’m an engineer. I work at Gatwick airport.

I          Right, so do you have to work early in the morning or late at night?

P          Yes, I work early mornings from 4 in the morning to 12 noon.

I          How do you find that? Are you OK at waking up early?

P          When I first started the job I used arrive late all the time but now I’m OK. I actually like waking up early. I get a lot more done in the morning than I do in the evening. I even wake up early on Sundays now!

I           Do you?! Well there’s no doubt about what type of person you are then!

 

2     Listen to five short conversations. There is one question for each conversation. For questions 6–10 underline the correct answer.

EXAMPLE

A         Did you have a good weekend?

B         It was OK. I didn’t really do anything.

A         No, neither did I.

B         The weather was so terrible, we couldn’t really.

A         I know.

6

A         Do you think you’ve got a healthy diet?

B         Yes, I think I do. I hardly ever eat fast food and I try and eat lots of fruit and vegetables.

A         Oh that’s good. I think you’re better than me. I hardly ever eat any vegetables. I like fruit though.

B         You look healthy enough.

A         Yes, but I think I should eat fewer biscuits and crisps.

7

A         How often do you go to the gym?

B         Oh about once a week. I used to go twice a week but it’s difficult to find the time now. Are you still going?

A         Yes, I go on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

B         That’s good.

8

A         How many hours do you normally sleep a night Dave?

B         Oh, I don’t know, about 6 or 7. Not enough I know but I always read in bed and stay awake longer then I should.

A         Yes, I do that sometimes, or I stay up and watch a film.

9

A         Do you think I’m a positive person Tony?

B         Yes, I think so. You have your pessimistic moments but in general I think you’re quite optimistic.

A         I don’t think I’m positive enough at work. I’m going to try and be less negative from now on. 

10

A         Is everything OK with the children Debbie? You look tired.

B         Oh no, they’re a lot of work but they’re fine.

A         Are you feeling OK? Maybe you should go to the doctor’s.

B         No, I feel fine. It’s work, we’re really busy at the moment. I’m quite stressed.

A         Why don’t you take a few days holiday?

B         Yes, I think I should.