SpeaK UP!!! - A Very Special Object

Hi, there!!!, 

Last week, I asked my students (from 2nd year of ESO) to bring a special object for them. Once again, it has been a very enriching experience, they brought some cards, bracelets and some big toys ;) All of them took part, they got involved really well, and above all, they were speaking English! The language assistant and I asked them: Why is it special for you? Who gave you this? When did they give you this? Why? We just tried to elicit the whole story behind their particular object.

As you can see, it's a very simple oral task, they used the Past Simple, they learned new words, ... AWESOME!!! because Learning English is always Fun!!!  :)

PS Thank you, Westley!

Speak UP!!! - PreDicTioNS

Hi, Guys!!!, 

I'd like to show you one of the oral tasks that we did in class last week. It's so basic and easy to encourage everyone to SpeaK Up!, that's why it always works... So, we just show our students the following pictures and ask them: what is going to happen? After that, we elicit new words related to these photos, to get more vocabulary. Then, we also found photos related to these ones.

I hope you'll enjoy this simple activity where even the weakest students were eager to take part and say something! It's easy-peasy and worthwhile ;)

Thank you, Albert ;)

New Year Resolutions

Hi, there!, 

From my point of view, talking about past year 2017 and the new coming year 2018 is a very positive way to speak about your new goals, hobbies, dreams, trips, family, ... Because of that, I love doing these kind of worksheets with my students, first speaking in small groups and then, writing down their new year resolutions. I hope you'll like it!

Let's practise PET (B1) and FCE (B2) Speaking Paper Part 1

Hi, there!!!;

Here we go again! As you well know, PET means Preliminary English Test (B1) whereas FCE refers to Fisrt Certificate Enlgish (B2). Today, let's focus on SPEAKING PAPER PART 1, both tests are quite similar in this part of the official exam.

So, at the very beginning, in the Speaking Paper Part 1 from both tests (PET and FCE), the candidates will be asked about themselves, they will give personal information, talk about past experiences, present job, studies, where they live, future plans, etc. Now, click on: pet-and-fce-speaking-paper-part-1 to see all the questions. If you need to see some possible answers, just click HERE.

Would you like to watch some real examples?

I hope you'll pass your coming exam;)

Health and illness Vocabulary

Hi, there!!!, 

'Have you ever had chicken pox?', asked the doctor.

Do you know what? It's not the same to say in English: 'I've broken my leg' , to say 'Break your leg'. So, the first means: 'I was running when I stumbled on a log, fell down and broke my leg"; whereas the second one means: 'Good Luck'. 

Therefore, today I'd like to show you how I usually introduce and work with this vocabulary Health and Illness (English Plus 2, Student's Book for 2ºESO) with my students. 

Firstly, I just show them the new vocabulary using these worksheets and mime the different situations. Then, I ask them to do the following activities in pairs, I need them to get familiar with the vocabulary (how to write these new words, their meanings, their pronunciation, ... and so on). If you want to see the activities, click on:

englishwsheets -health problems - illnesses

English Plus 2 - Unit 8 **

After that, I love ROLE PLAYS!!! So, I can use the following worksheet and also this link:bogglesworldesl- doctor_roleplay, and later, I ask my students to create their own dialogues in pairs. 

Needless to say, I help them with the expressions and I always encourage them to speak up!, since it's the best way to learn the target language ;-) Of course, when they feel involved in the process of learning, it's quite easy for them and for me!

I hope you'll like this post and good luck (or I'd better say: BREAK YOUR LEG! ;)

1º ESO - Mosaic 1 - Unit 7 Worksheets

Hi, Guys!!!,

Actions speak louder than words. 
So, don't waste time and let's review Unit 7, click on:

Mosaic 1- Unit 7 *

Mosaic 1 - Unit 7 **
After doing these execirses from the worksheet, you can play in class and spot the 6 differences between these pictures. Are you ready?

ODD ONE OUT Worksheets

Hi, there!!!, 

I hope everyone will be ok! Today, let's speak English using Odd One Out Worksheets. I love them to review vocabulary and have fun in class, I always divide my students into different teams, Igive them the worksheet, they work all together and then, there's a kind of competition in the correction. Once again, learning English is fun!

Now, let's click on the following links to get the Odd One Out Worksheets. Needless to say, you can create your own ones to review vocabulary from their Student's Book. It's up to you!

ISL COLLECTIVE (Odd One Out) 

funenglishgames (odd one out) - for young learners.

Let's speak using CounTaBle and UNcountaBle Nouns

Hi, Guys!!!, 

Last week, we were talking about Countable and Uncountable Nouns. So, today we can use them in the following speaking activities. Ready, steady, go!!!

ORAL TASK: The teacher can ask the students to work in pairs. Then, they are given this picture. So, try to asnwer the question: 'What can you see?' and don't forget to use: there is, there are, some, any, few. litlle, ... a packet of, a bar of, plenty of, ...

Oral Activity: 'What can you see?'

Quantifiers

* Teach This (Quantifier-race) (Oral exercise)

* For intermediate students, you can divide them into groups of four people. They have to organise a birthday party, what do they need? They have to write the shopping list and don't forget to use quantifiers. (Writing and speaking activity)

Learning English is always fun!

Let's speak English using PreSeNT CoNTinUoUs!!!

Hi, Guys!!!,

EASY PEASY!!! Today, we're going to describe these pictures answering this simple question: What are they doing? Obviously, I just want to encourage you to speak English!, learn new action verbs, practise Present Cont. and improve your pronunciation. So, let's see these pictures and then, you can play a mime game taken from Teach This (click here: guess-what-i-am-doing, and once again, you can go on practising this verbal tense). 

  

I hope you'll have fun learning English ;-)

 

Happy New Year!!! (Speaking task: New Year's Resolutions)

Hi, Guys!!!, 

Happy New Year!!! My best wishes for you all!!!!

By the way, I'd like to share with you this fantastic link: BRITISH COUNCIL (New Year's Resolutions) since I strongly believe it's one the best ways to start the new year with students, it's a good way to speak up about past events and then, let's focus on the future!!!! I'm not going to give you any more details, because you'll find all the material there :) I hope you'll enjoy it!!!!

SpeaKiNG TeST for YouNG LeaRneRs

Hi, Guys!!!, 

It's time to speak up! Let's talk about your hobbies and interests. Take turns to ask and answer the following questions. Are you ready?

1. What are your hobbies or your favourite free-time activities?

2. Are you interested in sport? What sports do you like? Why?

3. What's your favourite kind of music? What is your favourite song?

4. Have you got any pets? Talk about them. Would you like to have one when you grow up?

5. Do you prefer playing computer games or chatting to friends on the internet? Why?

After these questions, you can use these speaking cards, every student chooses one character or card, then, you can start asking questions to others, don't forget to use the Present Simple and the questions above.

If you've got some free time, you can do the following worksheet in pairs.

It's essential to speak English if you really want to learn this language. So, let's practise, we are on the way!!!

How to Describe a Picture in English

Hi, Guys!!!, 

Modern Family

In many oral exams, you will be asked to describe a picture, but how? Well, take it easy and practise! 

Firstly, look at the picture and you'd better start talking about general things such as: what can you see in the photo?, what are these people doing? or what is that boy doing?

You can use these useful phrases:

In this picutre, I can see ...

This photo shows ...

Threre is /are ...

Pay attention to this picture and read carefully its description.

Use the Present Cont. and describe as much as you can. Then, let's focus on the setting or environment. At this point, you can use: in the foreground, in the background, on the left, on the right, at the top, at the bottom, ...

After that, use your imagination and make assumptions, using Perhaps, maybe, might, ... And you can also describe what these people may feel in that picture.

1. englisch-hilfen-describing_pictures

2. picture-description-words-phrases

SpeaKiNG - FREE TIME ACTIVITIES (Hobbies, Interests, ...)

Hi, Teachers!!!,

It's essential to speak and practise English in class! Because of that, firstly, let's watch the following video and then, we can do an oral task related to Free Time Activities, just click on the link and download the worksheet.

Cambridge-Communicative_Activity 

As you can see, our students will practise Present Simple, Adverbs of Frequency as well as vocabulary connected with our daily routines.

At last, if you click on the following link, you can see flashcards (HOBBIES and INTERESTS) ready to be printed. I hope you'll find this blog entry useful!
Hobbies and Interests

One Picture - One Story

(Make up a story)

Hi, There!!!,

This speaking exercise is very easy, you only need some pictures and divide your students into different groups. 

Then, ask them to make up a story looking at these photos. 

Every group has one image and they must answer these helpful questions:

(Make up a story)

1. What are they doing?
2. Where are they?
3. What happened?
4. What do they feel?
5. What do you think it's going to happen?

Your students must work all together, use imagination, share their ideas, come an agreement and tell their story to the rest of the class. I hope you'll discover crazy stories and have fun!

(Make up a story)

(Make up a story)

 

Spot Differences - ORAL GAME

HI, Guys!!!,

As you well know, being fluent in a new language is one of the most difficult task. Because of that, I really like playing this game with the students, all of them get involved, take part, have fun and SPEAK ENGLISH!!! 

It's very simple: Find the Differences, just compare and contrast these two pictures!
You can use these expressions:

1. In Picture A or In Picture 1, I can see ...
2. In Picutre B or In Picutre 2, there is / there isn't ...
3. I can find ... in picture ... WHEREAS in picture ...

 
 

PreSeNT TenSeS (Oral Game)

Hi, there!!!,

Here we go! 

It's a very simple activity to encourage your students to use the Present Tenses. You can divide them into small groups or ask them to work in pairs. 

Then, you can make copies of the following picture or project this on a white board. 

Now, they start describing the photo and asnwer questions such as: what are they doing?, what are they wearing? As a teacher, you can walk around and help them with the vocabulary, pronunciation, ... Let's SPEAK UP!

Learning English is alsways FUN!!!;)

HoW To MaKe OuR StuDentS SPEAK UP!

Hi, Guys!!!,

As I see it, one of the most difficult task for teachers is actually getting your students to speak up 100%  English, though ovbiously, it is not an unrealistic impossible goal, but we have to work very hard. Because of that, I'd like to share some of my motivating ideas to help our English learners speak their target language. We should take into account that when you can communicate in English, you can handle the language!

Thus, one of my new academitc year's resolution is this! And how can I get it? By means of INTERESTING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. All students are very familiar with new technologies, internet, etc., so I'm going to ask them to prepare some oral presentations (max. 5 min.) about different cultural topics. It's going to be our English Cultural Corner at the end of the class. 

By this way, they must find some information about the following topics (I promise I'll add many more!!!). And also, they are going to learn  so much about many different cultural Bristish-American customs, traditions, historical characters, etc.

1. How many types of newspapers are there in UK?

2. What is the Commonwealth?

3. Why is the British flag called Union Jack?

4. Why are the Irish doors so colourful?

5. Where does the name "Wall Street" come from?

6.Who was William the Conqueror?

7. What is the highest building in New York city?

8. What are the origins, history and traditions of the British afternoon tea?

9. When did the Irish Famine happen?

10. What is the Act of Union 1707?

11. What do the Americans celebrate the 4ht of July?

12. Who was Lincoln?

13. Who was Charles Darwin?
14.  What is "Fish and Chips"?

15. Who was William Shakespeare?
16.  What is Halloween?

17. Who was Thomas Edison?
18. Why are London taxis called "black cabs"?

19. Who was Sherlock Holmes?
20. What is The Tube in London?
21. Who was Alfred the Great?
22. Who are the Buskers in London?
23. Who are the Beefeaters?
24. What's the meaning of "AIN'T"? 
25. Who was Robert Burns? and when is Burn's night celebrated? 
26. What is the Remembrance Sunday?
27. When is St David's day celebrated? Its origin and tradition.
28. When is St George's day celebrated? Its origin and tradition. 
29. When is St Patrick's day celebrated? Its origin and tradition. 
30. When is St Swithin's day celebrated? Its origin and tradition. 
31. What about the mystery of the Stoneghenge?  
32. What is Oak Apple Day?
33. What is the Bonfire Night? When is it celebrated?
34. What is Thanksgiving Day? When is it celebrated? 
35. Do you know what the Statue of Liberty stands for?
36. What's the meaning of  "LOL"? What about the netspeak?
37. What's the origin of St Valentine's Day? How was / is it celebrated?
38. Why is the capital of USA called Washington DC?
39. Who was Jane Austen? Where was she buried?
40. History of the Westminster Abbey. Its different parts.
41. Who was Edward the Confessor?
42. Who was Henry VIII?

(THERE WILL BE MORE QUESTIONS TOMORROW ;) AND IF YOU LIKE THIS IDEA, YOU CAN SHARE YOUR QUESTIONS WITH ME. Thanks! )

Then, every student chooses one of the topics. After that, they have to prepare their oral presentations making a power point, showing some pictures, posters, real objects, music, what they consider more attractive and entertaining... They must explain the topic, they have to be careful with their English, make the other students involved, ... and so on. 

At last, once again, I'd like to emphasize ENGLISH IS ALWAYS FUN!!!!

SpeaKiNG "OraL ExaM ToPiCs"

Hi, Guys!, 

I hope all of you will learn English everyday! Little by little, but every single day ;) Because of that, I've just selected some questions, they are oral exam topics. Don't be panic, they are quite easy and we're going to practise them in class. Nevertheless, you should download these topics and prepare them. Keep in mind, I just want you to SPEAK UP!!! We'll correct your mistakes and pronunciation, ok? I promise I'll be patient! ;) Sure!!!

Now, let's see ...

ORAL    EXAM   TOPICS

·         What's your name?

·         How old are you?

·         What do you do?

·          Where do you work / study?

·         Where do you live?

·         What do you do in your spare time?

·         Have you got any brother or sister?

·         Have you got any pet?

·         Can you drive?

·         Can you speak any other languages?

·         What do you usually do every afternoon?

·         What do you usually do at the weekends?

·         How many friends have you got?

·         How is your best friend like?

·         Why are you studying ICT (Information Communication and Technologies)?

·         What kinds of movies do you like?

·         What kinds of books do you like?

·         What kind of music do you like?

·         What games do you like?

·         What do you think about computer games?

·         What are your hobbies?

·         What sports do you like?

·         Do you practise any sport? Which one?

·         What magazines do you like?

·         Have computers improved our lives?

·         Can you tell me any positive things about computers? And negative?

·         What do you plan to do during the next holidays?

·         Do you like meeting people?

·         Have you ever travelled abroad? Which countries? Why?

·         What countries would you like to visit? Why?

·         What do you want to be in the future?