SAT Exams - PAU Andalucia September 2013

Hi, Guys!,

Some students took the following PAU exams last week, and some of you asked me some questions about the text, lexicon, ... Well, here you are the exam papers and answers! Let's see now!!!

OPTION A: "HEARING DOGS"

Possible answers:

I* COMPREHENSION:
1.ll. 4-5
2. ll. 9-10
3. ll. 10-11

4. TRUE l. 3-4 "... trained dogs could improve children's behaviour and lead to better academic performance, ...".
5. TRUE ll.14 "All hearing dogs are retired at 11 years of age but families usually keep them".

II* USE OF ENGLSIH:
6. Strong (adj) - STRENGTH (n)
7. deaf vs. HEARING
8. link = CONNECTION
9. ANSWER
10. Relative:
a) Hearing dogs, which are trained to alert children, also help them to improve behaviour.
b) Hearing dogs are trained to alert children, who / whom they also help to improve behaviour.

11. They didn't pay the plumber when they he finished.
12. Speech therapies ... (improve) considerably since they were originally developed.
      a) have improved      b) have been improved
13. If all deaf children had trained dogs, they could have led a better life. (3rd conditional)

OPTION B: "ARE BUCKET LISTS A GOOD IDEA?"

Possible answers:

I* COMPREHENSION:
1. ll. 9 -10.
2. ll. 11 -13 (showy age).
3. ll. 14 -15
4. FALSE ll. 1 -2
5. FALSE ll. 7 -8.

 II* USE OF ENGLSIH:
6. specify (v) - SPECIFIC (adj)
7. aim = GOAL
8. WORTHWHILE (adj)
9. ASSUME
10. How long have you been waiting for?
11. apologise
12. His grandmother had her portrait painted in the country.
13. What did Mr Dean's secretary tell her?

At last, let me tell you something interesting about "KICK THE BUCKET"

As it was mentioned in the text, the expression "to kick the bucket" was associated to die in the vulgar tone. Since, in the 16th century, people used to hang themselves by standing on a bucket and with a rope around their neck, and then, the bucket was kicked away.   

I HOPE YOU'LL PASS, BEST WISHES

AcRoNyMs in EnGLisH LaNguAGe TeaCHinG

Hi, Teachers!,

As  English teachers, we should  get familiar and know all the following acronyms. If you sometimes get confused or lost, you can see them now!!! 

I hope you'll refresh your memory!;) GOOD BEGINNING!!!

• CEFR : Common European Framewok of Reference for Languages
• CLIL : Content and Language Integrated Learning
• EFL : English as a Foreign Language
• ESL : English as a Second Language
• TEFL : Teaching  English as a Foreign Language
• TESL :  Teaching English as a Second Language
• ESOL : English for Speakers of Other Languages
• TESOL : Teachers of  English for Speakers of Other Languages
• ESP : English for Specific Purposes
• ICT : Information and Communication Technology
• TBL : Task-Based Learning
• TOEFL : Test of English as a Foreign Language (American origin)
• TOEFL cBT : (computer-based test)
• TOEFL iBT : (internet-based test)
• TOEFL pBT : (paper-based test)
• IELTS : International English Language Testing System
• TOEIC : Test of English International Communication (American origin)

Upper Secondary (Bachillerato) GREAT REVISION

Hi, there!, 

Are you ready to start a new year? I hope so! If it is so, you may need some extra exercises and worksheets for you. Because of that, I recommend you to click on and look at the following links, they are truly intesresting and useful!!!

1. 1º Bach. or 1st Upper-Secondary (all grammar and exercises with key answers)

2. Grammar and Exerc. (everything is clear up)

3. English for all ages (Enrique Alía) (many different worksheets)

4. Escuelassj (Bach) (power point presentations, exercises, worksheets, etc )

 5. archivosingles/BACHILLERATO

Let's go on DeCoRaTiNg OuR EnGLisH ClaSS!!!

Hi, Guys!,

Let's start a new year decorating our English labs, classrooms, ... It's a kind of RENEWAL, isn't it?

This time, I'm going to ask some help..., I'm going to ask my pupils to write some InSpiRatIOnal quotes for them, we'll use these to make posters and we'll decorate our class, corridors, etc. I think it's essential to feel involved and motivated from the very beginning. So, I promise I'll take some pictures when we've done it! SURE;)

I'll give you some examples:

"Ain't no mountain high, ain't no valley low, ain't no river wide enough"

"The future is in your hands"

"Let's try again"

Now, you can click on the following links to get some interesting posters:

1. Verb TO BE and some expressions related

2. Past Simple Poster

3. Writing Activity

I hope You'll like it! If you're more interested, just click on Decorating - Classroom

CoMinG BacK to ScHooL!!!

Hi, Guys!,

"Without confidence and love, there can be no true education".

"Teaching is a work of Heart".

Here We Go AgaiN!!! Good LucK for EveryOne ;)

LeaRNinG EnGLisH with FaiRY TaLeS

HI, GUYS!, 

As you well know, one of the funniest way of learning English is reading a tale, and it's far better when you already know the plot, the characters, it's easier for you to follow it ... but this time, let's read the story in English. So, you can improve your vocabulary and find out that "Cenicienta" is called Cinderella in English, "Blancanieves" is Snow White, and so on.

Now, let me post some tales from learnenglishkids.britishcouncil

(Undoubtedly, it's a great web, you'll find fantastic games ,songs for Kids, and special sites for parents and teachers. Don't waste time and click on there!!!)

Last but not least, do you dare to read these English tales as BEDTIME STORIES to your children? It could be a great chance to practise your English and let your children learn too. What do you think?

Once upon a time ... ;-)

SAT Exams - PAU Andalucia June 2013

Hi, Guys!, 

This week, many students are taking SAT exams to come into University. Good Luck! I hope you'll pass!

Now, I want to show you the English exams which they took yesterday. Do you find them difficult or easy? Let's see ...

OPTION A: "Are mobile phones dangerous?"

Possible answers:

1. COMPREHENSION:

1. Yes, ll. 1-3.

2. No, ll. 8-10.

3. Because ll.11-13.

4. False ll 4-5 "... the radio waves in mobile phones are lower than in radio frequency".

5. True ll. 13-14 Many years ago, people smoked ... not aware of the effects of cigarettes ...".

2. USE OF ENGLISH

6. CONCERN (l.6) Noun

7. Healthy, unhealthy

8. scare

9. Device l.10

10. What do some health professionals point out?

11. In spite of being expensive, she bought the car. / In spite of the fact that the car was very expensive, she bought it.

12. ...stopped smoking ...

13. It is believed by scientists that mobile phones are dangerous to our health. / Mobile phones are believed by scientists to be dangerous to our health.

OPTION B: " The day we met"

Possible Answers:

COMPREHENSION:

1. ll. 2-3

2. ll.8-9

3. l.11

4. TRUE l. 4

5. TRUE ll. 14-15

USE OF ENGLISH:

6. SHY (l.8)

7. ... complained ABOUT

8. SET UP

9. Proposal

10. I started playing chess thirty years ago.

11. The Ministry of Farming organised the agricultural camps excellently.

12. I am looking forward to sseing you.

13. If she hadn't written to me, I wouldn't have met her. (3rd Conditional)