WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER?

Our first class at school included a quick competition in groups about what you remembered from last year´s grammar and vocabulary.

What was your final score? Did you get 20 points? If not, please consider revising basic concepts from Basic 2!!

What do you remember? Basic English Revision from Paula Gómez

SONG: LET HER GO (by Passenger)

Michael David Rosenber (born 17 May 1984), better known by his stage name Passenger, is an English folk-rock singer-songwriter. Previously the main vocalist and songwriter of Passenger, he opted to keep the band´s name for his solo work after the band dissolved in 2009.

We listened to his most successful single in class, "Let her go", which has topped the charts in many countries. Now you can listen to it as many times as you want!!!

LEARNING STYLES

While everyone can learn, we all learn in different ways. To help you understand yourself as a foreign language student, I have chosen a couple of tests that you can take to learn about your learning style. They will help you enhance your learning potential. Learn the kind of student you are and share your results with all of us in the comments below!! Good luck!!

NAME

WHAT´S BEHIND A NAME?

Let´s get started with some information on what´s behind a name. What should you consider when choosing a name? Here are some useful tips for those who want to give their baby the dream name he / she deserves.

...and how much do you know about your family name? Discover the meaning and origin of your surname, and share comments with those who share your name by clicking here.

Then, try to revise family vocabulary in English using the exercises on this site. I´m sure you will find them both interesting and amusing!!

A website in Britain has just released a study into the strange names some people have. TheBabyWebsite.com created a list called ‘The Most Unfortunate Names in Britain’. Some of the names have been with people from birth; others got the names after they married. The bizarre, unlucky names include Justin Case, Barry Cade and Mary Christmas. Listen to the spokesperson from the website and decide whether the statements below are true or false.

a.	People in Britain have the strangest names in the world.	T / F
b.	People were either born with strange names or married into them.	T / F
c.	One woman in a report was named Barbed Wire.	T / F
d.	The report says parents need to think more carefully about names.	T / F
e.	The article says parents who wake up early choose better names.	T / F
f.	Lots of people name their children after movie stars and singers.	T / F
g.	The report suggested teachers have to try not to smile at some names.	T / F
h.	The banker Rob Mee and the lawyer Sue Mee are married.	T / F

And if you have problems remembering names, watch this video and follow the tips on how to never forget a name again, even though I´m sure you don´t need them. You did a great job on names in class!

VERB TENSES

Verb tenses are tools that English speakers use to express time in their language. You may find that many English tenses do not have direct translations in your language. That is not a problem. By studying this verb tense website, you will learn to think like a native English speaker. So far, you only need to focus on present simple, present continuous, past simple and "going to" future.

MAIN AUXILIARIES IN ENGLISH

1. Can you identify the main auxiliaries in these sentences?

We are learning English

English is spoken all over the world

I don’t like Maths

Do you smoke?

Why didn’t you come to the party?

I haven’t had anything to eat today.

What does your father do?

2. Draw your attention to had and do in the last two sentences. Are they auxiliary verbs? Why?

BE		HAVE		DO
Progressive tenses+ing		Perfect tenses		Simple tenses
Present	Past	Present	Past	Present	Past
Is / are / am	Was / were	Have / has	had	Do / does	did
Passive tenses+past participle

Now that you know everything you need to know about auxiliaries in English, have a look at this website and try the quiz on how to make questions in English at the end of the page. Good luck!!

USES OF LIKE

In case you need some extra practice and further explanations on the different uses of like, here is the website for you!!

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION VOCABULARY

Here is the presentation I showed in class. Check all the new words.

PERSONALITY ADJECTIVES

Need some extra work on personality words? Click here and try the activity.

HOW TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN ENGLISH

The way you behave and act with other people can be called "character", but there are many other words to describe that in English. Write down as many words as you hear as you are watching the video below.

In the video above, Mr. Duncan mentions several words that describe a positive character. Which ones are mentioned? Tick them in the list below.

EASY GOING HONEST AFFABLE GREGARIOUS GENEROUS FAITHFUL CONSIDERATE FRIENDLY AMUSING WARM RELAXED EXTROVERT SUNNY TOLERANT HAPPY OPTIMISTIC GENIAL CHEERFUL OPEN MINDED BRIGHT

SOCIABLE

INTERVIEW WITH KATIE HOLMES

These are some of the questions Katie Holmes was asked at an interview some time ago. Do you think you can put them in the right order? Listen to Katie´s answers and match them to the questions below.

1. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
2. Would you like to do an action film?
3. When did you start acting?
4. How did you feel when you first acted in public?
5. What kind of school did you go to?
6. What was the first movie you saw?

A BIG FAMILY OR A SMALL FAMILY?

Listen to six different people talking about the advantages and disadvantages of growing up in a small family and match each speaker with his / her ideas. Ask for the answers in class!!!

SPEAKER:	1	2	3	4	5	6
SENTENCE: (letter)

1. If we have a small family it is easier to make up after a problem.

2. Both options have some advantages.

3. Nowadays having a small family is better because it is cheaper .

4. With a big family you can learn diversity.

5. Growing up in a small family is better because you are the centre of attention.

6. You learn to give and to be given as well.

7. He/ She has no sisters

ENGLISH SOUNDS AND PHONEMIC SYMBOLS

I would like to help you hear the sounds of English and connect them to their corresponding character. So, click here to look at a chart and listen to the sound each symbol represents. Once you´ve had enough practise, you can watch the video below.