A collocation dictionary

In class we've encountered sometimes several collocations. We've seen them, analised them and studied them. 

However, sometimes you NEED them. 

Like when you're writing an essay and you don't know how to express a certain expression. If I am nearby you don't hesitate and ask me but... What happens when you are at home?

Well, this is a very useful resource for these sort of moments. It's called a collocation dictionary.

Let's see an example:

You want to express that you love some very much.... 

You look up the word "love" in the Collocation Dictionary and you check the possibilities...

Did you find it?

Yes, in the verb section you can see different possibilities:

love dearly

love deeply

love passionately

love really

love tenderly

love very much

Now you only have to pick the best one from the list! 

Here's the link:

Oxford Online Collocation Dictionary

Are you feeling a bit nervous?

You've done your homework...

You've attended your evening lessons...

You've done some exercise...

It's only 7 p.m in the evening and you are exhausted and worn out.

Would you like to be somewhere else?

Like, say, the beach... listening to the waves....

Now it's possible (well, almost!). Look what I found!

Calm is a sound-generator programme offering relaxing playlists with different lengths (from 2 to 20 minutes each). You'll be immediately  If you want to chill out after a stressing day, this web will be perfect for you.

Which is your favourite sound from nature?

Maybe, you can find it in this other web:

A soft murmur

Good luck!

Tomorrow some of my students are taking the B1 exams. They were quite nervous today, so here I am, wishing them the best of luck.

But, given that this is a learning blog, I couldn't spoil this opportunity to improve your vocabulary (hehehehehe).

I know that you love being imaginative, so why don't you try these other phrases to wish someone luck? 

You only have to pick one from the following list! 

Help yourselves!

First things first

As promised, you can find below the answer key to the exercises 1, 2 and 3 of pages 108 and 109 (student's book).

Exercise 1:
1. were listening
2. had stopped
3. had rained
4. would get
5. was going to buy

Exercise 2
1. Sharon told me that she couldn't help me /him
2. Kevin shouted that they had bought tickets for the game.
3. My mum warned me that I would hurt myself if I weren't careful.
4. Simon admitted that he had forgotten to feed the cat.

Exercise 3:
1. She claimed that she had phoned him/her/me the day before.
2. She said that she was leaving then/ at that moment.
3. They told me that they had once stayed at that hotel.
4. He promised that he would see him/her/me the following week.
5. Steve told Kate that they had to meet there.

Workbook Answer Key, Unit 9 page 69
Exercise 1:
1. fashion
2. local news
3. horoscopes
4. business.
5. world news
6. travel

Exercise 2: 
1. entertainment
2. classified ads.
3. weather
4. editorial
5. national news
6. sport

Workbook Answer Key, Unit 9 page 70

Exercise 1
1. hadn't seen John
2. would help me with my homework
3. was cancelled
4. were getting married in the summer
5. hadn't heard anyone

Exercise 2
1. could start
2. had eaten
3. had won
4. the party was
5. to keep off
6. meet

Exercise 3: 
1. complained
2. suggested
3. promised
4. wanted to know
5. told

I'm baaaaaack!

Some of you have been dreading this moment for a few weeks....

And some others have waited with bated breath for my arrival...

Y'all have been patient...

So... here I am! 

The universe heard your prayers and now my internet connection is BACK! 

YAY!

I have WIFI again! (I must confess that I almost cried, snif)

So you now get ready for a super-intense weekend with several updates and new contents!

Relative pronouns

You ask for them :)

More exercises with answer key!

Defining Relative Clauses 1

Relative Pronouns 2

Defining/ Non-defining Relative Clauses

Does it ring a bell?

Opppps! 

It's been a while... 

We have to catch up!

This is an idiom that I use very often in class, so I assume hope you won't have any problems guessing its meaning...

Let's start with several examples:

The name of the company rang a bell but I couldn't remember where I had heard it before

No, I'm sorry, that description doesn't ring any bells with me

That rings a bell

And now let's check the meaning!

In order to keep a blog running...

1. You need some time to post...

2. You need tons of a pinch of imagination...

(do not get scared by the wicked smile of the picture. This is the Cheshire cat, from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)

3. You need one of the following devices...

4. And... last but not least...

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS NEEDED TO KEEP A BLOG RUNNING?

Yeah, you are right!

INTERNET CONNECTION!!!

And, having reached this point, you might have guessed which problem I have lately....

Listening Practise--> Young Learners (Movers)

Hello! How are you doing? 

I bet that some of you are at the beach, getting a wonderful tan. But, remember to put on some suncream if you don't want to end up like this poor piglet.

Anyway, school time is not over yet and you need to practise your listening skills. Remember that the listening tests will take place next week. So, in order to encourage you, I'll be uploading this weekend a series of listening exercises. Hope you find them useful!

EXAM 1: PART 1 (MOVERS)

EXAM 1: PART 2

EXAM 1: PART 3

EXAM 1: PART 4

EXAM 1: PART 5

Grammar Revision--> Comparatives and Superlatives

More exercises for you to practise!

Remember, you don't have to do them all, just choose those grammar aspects you want to revise and download your copies!

Worsheet #1: Irregular comparatives and Superlatives. Answer key included

Worksheet 1

Worksheet #2: Irregular comparatives and superlatives. Answer key included

Worksheet 2

Worksheet #3: Comparatives and Superlatives

Worksheet 3

Excuse my French

Taking advantage of the current location of some of my students of 4ºESO, this week's idiom deals with a neighbour country. 

Ok, so here it goes... I think you all going to like it.

Excuse/ Pardon my French

Let me show you some pictures so you can deduce its meaning.

And another one:

And finally an example with context: 

” If you’ll pardon my French, but I think you’re a %^&*!”

And here's the definition:

In the days when language propriety was more of an issue than it is now, using a word or phrase that was “unfit for mixed company” was likely to lead to   embarrassment. Since French was considered a racy language, people excused      themselves with “pardon my French.”

Copies available at the copy shop

Dear students,

You can buy your copies at the copy shop tomorrow. See you then.


Your too-demanding-but-nice teacher,

Esl-freak.

Relative Pronouns--> Online practise (easy level)

Although you are not big fans of online grammar exercises I think this are good to start with. 

Why don't you give it a try?

Online quiz #1

Online quiz #2

Quiz on Which, That and Who

Relative clauses: Online game

Test your knowledge on relative clauses

Tense revision--> Past simple and Past Continuous

We keep on with our revision entries. Number 2 is dedicated to the Past simple and Past Continuous Tenses. Help yourselves!

Worsheet #1: Past simple and Past Continuous Revision (level: easy). With answer key!

Worksheet 1

Worksheet #2: Past Simple and Past Continuous test (level: A2). Answer key is not included.

Worksheet #2

Programa "Campus Científico de verano"

Ya ha salido publicada la resolución para el Programa "Campus Científico de Verano". Me consta que algunos de vosotros echásteis la solicitud, así que ya podéis comprobar si estáis admitidos en la página oficial del programa. 

Campus científico de Verano 2015

It's all about manners

Did you know that manners are all about a reduction of violence between people?

 If you don't believe it, have a listen to this.

LearnEnglish--> Manners

And this is a video quiz dealing with modern good and bad manners:

ESL video quiz--> Good manners

Tense revision--> Present Simple and Present Continuous

At this point of the year some of you are like...

This is the first of a series of grammar-focused entries to help you revise all the contents we've seen in class so far!

So..... Get ready for our revision trip.

Let's start with the simple present and present continuous! We studied them back on unit 1! Phew! That's a long time ago, you would be thinking... but we've been using these tenses since then. 

You can check your knowledge with these two exercises:

Up for a listening exercise?

And here's the copy with the exercises: 

John Legend: All of me (LIstening Activity)

And... here's a fill-in-the gaps exercise (with answer key):

Tense revision: Simple Present and Present Continuous