First. I don't mind if I have to go to bookshops because I like walking in the street. Well, but I have a problem because I'm worried for the  enviroment because these days are very dangerous, but I prefer paper books, absolutely If they're my favourite books. In conclusion I think that I don't mind I haven't problems about Electronic Books . Fatima Barranquero (1º Bach)

We decided that the ebook is more useful because you can have a lot of books in a small space and it is the best if you go on holiday, but we prefer having in paper books our favourite books. Amanda and María . (1º Bach)

TOPIC OF THE WEEK:    E-BOOKS OR PAPER BOOKS? MAKE YOUR CHOICE AND WRITE A COMMENTARY.
SPEAKING EVALUATION:    emails or letters              plane or boat         text message or phone call
                                                  traditional toothbrush/electronic toothbrush               credit card or cash
                                                  car or bike              computer game or board game

I PREFER ELECTRONICS BOOKS BECAUSE  I CAN BUY A BOOK MORE EASILY AND I CAN DOWNLOAD BOOKS FOR FREE. Jhonatan (1ºBTO)

I love the ebooks. They are small and I can take lots of books. Cristina(1ºBach)

I prefer electronic books because you cant have many books. Dayana Llonis(1ºBach)

I HATE NEW TECHNOLOGIES. MY STUDENTS PREFER E-BOOKS.....BUT WHAT ABOUT TRADITIONAL BOOKS WITH THE SMELL OF PAPER AND THE MEMORIES....?The teacher.

Ebooks are better than paper books, you can have a lot of books together in the ebooks and it is more ecologic. Daniel Muñoz (1 Bach)

I prefer electronic books because you can  read books and it is easier for studying but they are expensive!! Alba (1º-BCT-B)

Ebooks, another new technology! I think it's great because you can organize all the books whatever you like and it doesn't take up a lot of space like paper books. Raluca (1ºBTC B)

I like the Ebook, I can have a great deal books everywhere, but its very expensive and I like having my favorite books in paper book. Desirée (1ºBto)

I prefer the Ebook because you can carry more books easily. And it doesn't destroy trees. Noelia San Segundo (1 Bach.)

If e-books were cheaper, people would buy them and there would be more trees..........Roberto (1º Bach)

E-books are expensive but with that you'll have space for other things....
Anonimous (1º Bach.)

............to BOURNEMOUTH

On Sunday the 17th June, a group of students of 1º BTO will travel to Bournemouth, on the South coast of England, to spend a week improving their English skills as much as possible. Students will be accommodated by a host family and will attend to classes every morning for three hours. After classes, some activities are organized for them: visiting a beach with Jurassic remains, getting to know Bath and Oxford, sightseeing the town and of course, meeting some other foreign students...Enjoy your stay!!!

END-OF-THE-YEAR

 

MORE FOR EVALUATION

The end of the school-year is VERY NEAR......!
You have worked really hard in ENGLISH and you have to be given a FINAL MARK
As the aim of this optional subject is to IMPROVE your speaking and listening skills and provide you with as much practice as possible...
You will be tested on your SPEAKING and LISTENING abilities with all of the activites presented here.

books

Books? 
Do we really enjoy reading? Of course, we do....
We discussed in class about our favourite genres when it comes to reading.

Did you know that many of us usually read ghost stories, thrillers,  mystery and murder novels?
But fantasy novels are also among our favourites:

 Why don't we read poetry or plays? What about historical novels, science-fiction or romances?

In class, each of us had to talk about the last book we had read....describe the plot, characters, why we liked it and we learned a new word that now we use all the time: GRIPPING

volunteering

Our language assistant told us about VOLUNTEERING. It is not popular in our country, doing some voluntary work to help others without getting any money in exchange. Would you do it? Can you give an example? Do you remember what we saw on the DVD ?
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?

some information 

PHRASE BANK
volunteer
charity
voluntary work
unpaid
pressure groups
community care
a feeling of satisfaction
a sense of pride
learn useful life skills
benefit the local community

REMEMBER:
You can use the following expressions with 'make' and 'change' to talk about the effects of voluntary work:
make a difference, a contribution, something count
change your point of view, your attitude, your view of the world, your perspective on life  

summer jobs

Some students decide to work during the summer holidays in order to save money for the following school year or for a wonderful travel far away from home.
 Others decide to live on their own while studying , so a part-time job seems the most suitable option if you still want to finish your studies.
We commented about summer jobs in class, which one would you rather do, timetable, salary......requirements.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Would you like to spend the summer as a lifeguard, camp monitor, babysitter or helping in a farm?

FIRST AID tips

One day we had a funny competition . It was called SURVIVAL GAME.
Each group had to take a test on 'First Aid' tips:

-What should you do if you cut a finger and it couldn't stop bleeding?
put a plaster on it
put your arm up so the hand is above the heart level
tie a handkerchief tight around your arm

-What should you do if you broke a leg while you are waiting for an ambulance to come?
try to stand up
lie down
sit down keeping your feet towards the front

....................and ten more questions  ????

We got to the conclusion that we still have a lot to learn!!!!!!!!

inviting people...../accepting and declining politely

How to make and accept invitations in English.

"What are you doing next Saturday? We're having some people over for a meal. Would you like to come?"
"Are you free next Thursday?"
"Are you doing anything next weekend?"
"Would you be interested in coming to the cinema with me tonight?"
"How do you fancy going out for a meal at the weekend?"

Accepting

"Would you like to…"
"I'd love to, thanks."
"That's very kind of you, thanks."
"That sounds lovely, thanks."
Do you fancy coming to the cinema tonight?
"What a great idea, thanks."

Declining

"Would you like to come over for dinner on Saturday?"
"That's very kind of you, but actually I'm doing something else on Saturday."
"Well, I'd love to, but I'm already going out to the cinema."
"I'm really sorry, but I've got something else on."
"I really don't think I can – I'm supposed to be doing something else."

Speaking Tip

It's important to be polite when you decline an invitation. We normally give a reason why we can't do something and either apologise, or use words like "actually" or "really".

video

IN AMERICA.....a moving film

Following the tragic death of their two-year-old son Frankie, Irish couple Johnny and Sarah Sullivan and their remaining two offspring, 10 year old Christy Sullivan and 5 year old Ariel Sullivan, emigrate illegally to the United States via Canada with little in their pockets. Their final destination is Manhattan where Johnny hopes to work as a stage actor. They move into a unit in a run town tenement housed primarily with drug addicts, transvestites and one tenant coined "the man who screams". They do whatever they can to eke out a supportive family environment in this difficult situation, the support which ultimately extends to those around them, most specifically "the screamer" who turns out to be an African-American artist named Mateo with AIDS. But the memory of Frankie hangs over the family in good and bad ways, especially as Sarah learns she's pregnant. Christy...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298845/

looking good!

APPEARANCES

How important is it for you to look fine?

Do you take into account other people's opinions on your clothes?

Do you have a personal style or do you blend in with the rest ?

How important is it to dress up for a job interview?

GIVE YOUR OPINION TO THE CLASS................

GRAMMAR (SMILE) POINT!!!!!!

We use the verb SPEND to talk about time and money.

HOW MUCH DO YOU SPEND EVERY WEEK?

HOW LONG DID YOU SPEND AT THE BEACH YESTERDAY?

CULTURE

DID YOU KNOW.................paper currency was first invented in China. Since then the currencies of the world have taken many different forms. Australian notes aren't even made of paper. Instead they use a kind of plastic. American dollars, like many other currencies, are made of cotton paper.

money matters....

here is my PIGGY BANK

I'd like to open an account

useful vocabulary and expressions:

DEBIT/CREDIT CARD - BANK STATEMENT
BRANCH - PIN NUMBER
CASHPOINT /ATM -WITHDRAW CASH/MONEY
HAVE AN OVERDRAFT/ - BE IN THE RED
ALLOWANCE -POCKET MONEY
I'M BROKE - I AM COMPLETELY SKINT

CASH FLOW
CURRENCY TRAVELLER'S CHEQUES
EXCHANGE RATE
NOTES
COMMISSION

just some more...READING!

Three Is a Lucky Number Margery Allingham

At five o’clock on a September afternoon Ronald Torbay was making preparations for his third murder. He was being very careful. He realized that murdering people becomes more dangerous if you do it often.

He was in the bathroom of the house that he had recently rented. For a moment he paused to look in the mirror. The face that looked back at him was thin, middle-aged and pale. Dark hair, a high forehead and well-shaped blue eyes. Only the mouth was unusual – narrow and quite straight. Even Ronald Torbay did not like his own mouth................

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE END OF THIS AMAZING STORY....JUST READ IT!

It is easy to find in the web for free . You just need type the title in the 'google' site...and you get it....

TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS

Follow the link:
LEAVE A MESSAGE

reading

Improve your vocabulary knowledge by reading this short story called THE BULLY.
Underline the words that you don't know and translate them
It is a simple story about BULLYING at school and how difficult it is for some boys to deal with it.
Hope you enjoy it!

giving your opinion

Before speaking or writing you must THINK carefully what you are going to say.
DO NOT RUSH into CONCLUSIONS.
It is important to have all your points organized.
Then you can start:

-Express your opinion from the very beginning
-Support your point of view with real examples
-Reinforce our opinion with as many arguments as possible
-Express your conclusion short and clear
-(Don't forget to use the connectors the teacher taught in class....)
and...........
EXPRESS YOUR OPINION:
Advantages and disadvantages of LIVING IN THE COUNTRY/CITY

Task 2: Discuss

Are you for or against? Discuss these topics in groups.
1 Emails or letters?
2 Text message or phone call?
3 Plane or boat?
4 Electric toothbrush or traditional toothbrush?
5 Credit card or cash?
6 Computer game or board game?
7 Car or bike?

remember.........

I am going to describe a colour/black and white picture/photograph

It is the picture/photograph of a person/object/landscape

It is a...................picture/photograph (your personal valoration)

IN THE FOREGROUND
ON THE RIGHT
ON THE LEFT
IN THE BACKGROUND
THERE IS THERE ARE
FROM HERE WE CAN SEE
IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON....
THE MOST STRIKING ASPECT IS...
I THINK....
THEY SEEM TO BE ..........
THEY LOOK LIKE.....
and use as many adjectives as you remember and TRY TO LEARN NEW ONES....maybe they will make your description more accurate......

and a full battery of ADJECTIVES and other indications to describe these photographs that we saw in class:

DESCRIBING PICTURES/ PHOTOGRAPHS

FIRST
WATCH THIS VIDEO TO HELP YOU ORGANIZE YOUR DESCRIPTION:

Describe a picture

CULTURE

Since it began in 1922, the BBC has never broadcast any ads breaks

LANGUAGE NOTE

The musical theme or short song that accompanies many ads or announcements on TV and radio is called a JINGLE.


PUBLICITY is the interest or attention that people give to a thing, person or event.
he attracted a lot of bad publicity after the newspaper scandal


ADVERTISING is the business of trying to persuade people to buy products or services.
they launched an important advertising campaign

my blackberry is not working

CLASS DEBATE:

There is too much advertising of violent toys in the media. Adverts for these toys should be banned. Discuss.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You should be ready to EXPRESS YOUR OPINION about a topic presented to you by the teacher. Use the vocabulary/expressions learned in class.

ADS

DO YOU LIKE ADS?

ads, advertisements, TV commercials (or as you prefer to call them...) are everywhere, nowadays in MASS MEDIA

Let's study some vocabulary related to the topic:
BRAND NAME
COMMERCIALS
LOGO
POP-UP
SLOGAN
CLASSIFIED ADS
SPONSORSHIP
CONSUMER / CUSTOMER / CLIENT
PROMOTION
CAMPAIGN
PRODUCTS
CATCHY
CONTROVERSIAL

IN A RESTAURANT WITH....

julia roberts and richard gere in PRETTY WOMAN
or
mr bean in THE RETURN OF MR BEAN

more about food

In English, the word 'CHEERS' is traditionally used to toast or celebrate something, often with alcohol.
Today, we use the word to say thank you, especially when receiving food.

If you want to pay your friend's food or drink, you have to say:
IT'S MY TREAT!
IT'S ON ME!
I'LL GET THIS!



WHAT IS A FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT? and A TAKE-AWAY? A STANDARD RESTAURANT?
DO YOU EVER ORDER FOOD FOR HOME DELIVERY?

do you know these expressions? They are called: collocations

bread and butter bacon and eggs bangers and mash knife and fork cup and saucer
salt and pepper fish and chips strawberries and cream

TWO TRADITIONAL BRITISH MEALS ARE:
-steak and kidney pie with chips
-bangers and mash with pureed potatoes

WHEN IT COMES TO ORDER:
-waiter starter main course dessert share out the food regular/big/small

WHEN IT COMES TO PAY:
-bill waiter tip check the order split the bill offer to pay

EATING OUT

let's go out for a meal

See what we can find in the menu:

cookies curry fresh orange juice water (still/ sparkling)

fries French fries ketchup/mustard fizzy drinks

green salad garlic bread......

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FLAVOUR?
acidic bitter spicy sweet sour

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012