"THE PIONEER FILES": THE END PRODUCT [7th CW]

At the final countdown to our 7th Cultural week on the topic of "PIONEER CHARACTERS", we want to show you how all your work has ended up into:

"THE PIONEER FILES".

These photos show you the final result of all your biographies. In the end 21 biographies have been selected from the corrected versions that were handed in at 2ºESO-C and 1ºBACs classes. Twenty one biographies of people who have been the first at something throughout time.

A second part of the project was preparing the 20 questions of the "PIONEERS CHALLENGE QUIZ", which are also included at the end of the files. The questions are based on the ones made by students from 2ºESO-C.

Both, all the 21 biographies together with a slide and the 20 questions will be appearing on following posts in this blog in the next days, so that you can search the answers carefully. And also from Monday, they'll be exhibited in front of the school's library. (Photos included below).

THE PIONEER FILES EXHIBITION:

Remember you can take part in the challenge quiz by posting your ballot-paper (with your name, course/group + the 20 answers) in the box at the exhibition or handing it in to your English teacher.

CONFUSING MODAL VERBS

On this post we're going to distinguish the use of modal verbs in pairs that can be confusing. For the basics on modal verbs click to this previous post HERE.

1) Distinguishing MAY & CAN.

2) Distinguishing WILL & WOULD:

3) Distinguishing MUST & SHOULD:

4) Distinguishing between modal verbs meaning PROBABILITY:

5) Distinguishing between modal verbs meaning PERMISSION:

6) Distinguishing MUST from semi-modal HAVE TO:

VIIth "LQDVI" CONGRESS IN A CORUÑA TODAY

The 7th edition of the "LO QUE DE VERDAD IMPORTA" Congress will be held in A Coruña's Palexco today, Wednesday March, 16th from 8:30 until 15:30.

Some of our 1ºBAC students will be attending. This year's guest speakers will be:

- CARMEN CORDON, GRAPO kidnapped businessman's daughter.

- LETICIA MARTÍNEZ-ALCOCER, survivor victim of sexual abuse.

- TOÑEJO RODRÍGUEZ, extreme sportsperson on wheelchair

VERBS FOLLOWED BY INFINITVE

Last Monday we published the list of verbs followed by -ING, here. Today we publish a list of verbs followed by infinitive.. Remember the whole set of rules and verbs followed either by '-ing' form or infinitive either with our without "TO" can be seen HERE and practiced HERE.

VERBS FOLLOWED BY '-ING'

Here's a list of verbs followed by '-ing' form. Remember the whole set of rules and verbs followed either by '-ing' form of infinitive either with our without "TO" can be seen HERE and practiced HERE.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FORMAL & INFORMAL ENGLISH

This chart summarises the main differences between formal & informal English.
Below examples of differences in vocabulary:

MUMBAI, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE & JAUME SANLLORENTE'S "BOMBAY SMILES" PROJECT

Have you seen the film "Slumdog Millionaire"?
What's it about?
Here's the trailer:

Do you know where it takes place?
Mumbai? Where is it?

Do you know Jaume Sanllorente?

We've already spoken about him on this blog (HERE) when he visited A Coruña back in April 2011 to give a conference at Palexco, and who our 1st BAC students from this school attended.

About Mumbai, about Jaume and his project is the listening on page 32 of 1st BAC student's book. 
+ info about his project @ mumbaismiles.org

COLLOCATIONS WITH "DO"

Examples in context:
- They are doing business with foreign countries.
- Do your best in the exam.
- He's doing nothing at the moment. He can go now.
- He hardly ever does the cooking, he eats out a lot.
- She does the housework in the morning: makes the bed, cleans, puts on the washing machine...
- I do the shopping every Friday afternoon at the local supermarket.
- We don't do the washing up now, we bought a dishwasher.
- She does her hair at the hairdresser's, she never washes it at home.
- After school, I always do my homework in the afternoon.
- Could you do me a favour? Can you make me a cup of tea, please?

+ info: DO

A CULTURAL TALK @ "RAFAEL DIESTE": THE BRITISH SPORTING BOOM

Today Pearson teacher trainer Michael Brand come to our school. He's always had a passion for languages, studying French and German at university before doing a PGCE to become a teacher.

Having taught French and German in England for 2 years, he has been in Spain for 6 years now and has taught English to a wide range of ages from primary to C2 level.

Today he's at our school to give a talk to 1st-year BAC students on sport:

"The British Sporting Boom. What has caused it?" 

We play it, it’s on our TVs in our living rooms and on social media on our phones. We see it in advertising and we talk about it in the pub. Sport is a way of life. But how did it come to this? In this talk we look at the origins and development of three very different British sports: football, rugby and cricket, their spread around the world and their growth in importance, with the problems this has caused

This talk at the Assembly Hall of the school at 8:30 for 1st BAC students.

PREFIXES & SUFFIXES

Another post with more on prefixes & suffixes
- Prefixes grouped by meaning:

Some examples:

- Link to a prefix glossary HERE.

- Now with suffixes:

Link to a previous post HERE.
Watch the videos below about them:

Video:



Video on suffixes:



Video on prefixes:

INFINITIVE OR GERUND PRACTICE

SUMMARY
REMEMBER ALWAYS

• “TO” INFINITIVE:

after ADJECTIVES It's difficult to understand

after QUESTION WORDS I don't know how to do it

to express PURPOSE Use a knife to cut it

• INFINITIVE “without TO”:

after MODAL VERBS You must practice more

• “-ING” GERUND:

after PREPOSTIONS I left the party without seeing you

used as a noun Smoking is bad for your health

Here are exercises to practice the use of the infinitive or gerund forms after different verbs or in different expressions. If you want to check on the basic rules click HERE

Link to more here.

More exercises here.

INFINITIVE OR GERUND?, GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

Sometimes we need to decide whether to use a verb in its: -ing form, gerund (doing, singing) or infinitive form (to do, to sing). For example, only one of the following sentences is correct. Which one?

We decided to take a taxi OR We decided taking a taxi

A) WHEN TO USE AN INFINITIVE:
1-always used AFTER ADJECTIVES, for example: disappointed, glad, happy, pleased, relieved, sad, surprised...

I was happy to help them. She will be delighted to see you.

- Including TOO+ADJECTIVE: The water was too cold to swim in.

Is your coffee too hot to drink?

- It is used after ADJECTIVE+ENOUGH: He was strong enough to lift it.

She is rich enough to buy two.

2- It's used to express PURPOSE*: He phoned to invite me to a party

*For+somebody+TO DO+something: This bench is for us to sit on /

*For+ing: A knife is used for cutting

3- It's always used after QUESTION WORDS+ a verb:

I don't know how to do it. He didn't say when to call him.

4- The infinitive form is used after certain verbs:- agree, allow, can/can't afford, choose, decide, encourage, expect, forget, help, hope, learn, manage, mean, offer, plan, pretend, promise, recommend, refuse, teach, train, want...

I forgot to close the window. We can't afford to take a long holiday.

5- With other verbs the structure is: VERB+(obj)+TO* infinitive: -allow, ask, expect,

help, invite, mean, order, recommend, remind, teach, tell, want, warn...The police ordered the people to leave.

He wanted me to go with him. I warned him not to come back late.

!!*- make & let: verb+obj.+infinitive without to. Let me do it.

6- Always with MODAL VERBS+infinitive without to: - can/could, may/might, must, need, shall/should, will/would. (Except: ought to).

She can swim very well. I'll see you tomorrow. You mustn't do that.

You should go to the doctor. / You ought to go to the doctor.

B) WHEN TO USE A GERUND (-ing):1- The -ing form is used as a noun and is the subject of a sentence or clause:

Swimming is good exercise. Doctors say that smoking is bad for you.

2- The -ing form is ALWAYS used after a PREPOSITION:
They left without saying "goodbye".

or a VERB+PREPOSITION*: - succeed in, insist on, think of...

He insisted on taking me home.

or EXPRESSIONS*: - it's no good/use, have difficulty, go+-ing...

It's no use in complaining He goes swimming every Tuesday.

!!* Watch out with:

- USED TO+infinitive: He used to wear glasses.

- BE/GET USED TO+ing: He's used to getting up early.

- LOOK FORWARD TO+ing: They are looking forward to visiting us this summer.

3- The -ing form is used after certain verbs: avoid, can/can't stand, carry on, dislike, enjoy, fancy, finish, give up, imagine, keep on, mind/not mind, miss, practise
I dislike getting up early. Would you mind opening the window?

C) Some verbs can be followed by the -ing form or the infinitive:
1) Without a big change in meaning: begin, continue, hate, intend, like*, love, prefer*, propose, start.
It started to rain. (common) - It started raining.
I like to play tennis. (it's good, right) - I like playing tennis. (I enjoy it).
!!*would like to+infinitive: I would like to live here.

!!*prefer +ing to +ing: I prefer driving to travelling by train.

prefer to infinitive rather than...: I prefer to drive rather than to travel by train.

would prefer to infinitive rather than...: I'd prefer to stay (rather than leave).

2) Others have a change of meaning depending on which is used:
- FORGET 
I forgot to tell him the news. (fail to do something)
I forget telling him the news but perhaps I did. do something and not remember)
-  REGRET 
I regret to inform you have to leave the country. (be sorry to+unpleasant info)
I regret settling in Britain. (a mistake in the past)
- REMEMBER 

I remember posting the letter. (= He remembers having done it. After)
Remember to post the letter when you go out. (Before doing it, remind you to do it.)
- NEED

I need to do more exercise. (It's necessary for me. You have to do it).
The batteries need changing. (Need as a modal verb. It needs to be done. Impersonal sentence).
- STOP

I stopped to talk to him. (It tells the reason for stopping).
He stopped walking. (It tells the action which stopped).
- TRY

I tried to keep my eyes open. (Effort, attempt).
Try pressing this button. (Experiment, test).

Summary verb chart:

Video GERUND / TO+infinitive:

Here are links to practice and test yourself on Gerunds & Infinitives:
On this blog.

English study quiz (1)
English study Quiz (2)

Test your English
Using English
ESL about
+ info: British Council

LUKE'S TALK AT "RAFAEL DIESTE"

This morning, we had the pleasure to receive Luke's visit to our school. He's an Englishman from Liverpool, who lives in A Coruña.

Unfortunately, we forgot to take photos of him talking, but during his talk he showed the cartoon picture of "Family Guy's" character Peter Griffin, telling us that his friends said he looked like him.

Luke gave a speech for 1stBAC students about British culture: 

- the British flag ("The Union Jack"), (Info about this is also in this blog: HERE1)

- the difference between Northern Ireland, part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland, (Info about this is also in this blog:  HERE2).

- why British drive on the left, which countries do so and the reason why. (Info about this is also in this blog:  HERE3).

- Scottish traditions (pagpipes, kilts, tartan...)

He was very amusing, making students participate and enjoy.

Thanks Luke and we hope to see you again (and take photos when you come!)

Luke is sponsored by Burlington Books.

THE DIFFERENCE OF ADJECTIVES WITH -ED OR -ING

Always confusing, when to use an edjective ending in -ED or in -ING and what's the difference in meaning. Here are some quick charts to clear up.

Video:


+ info links:
- Adjectives ending in ED and ING
- BBC Grammar challenge -ED and -ING adjectives

practice links:
- Exercise practice 1
- Exercise practise 2
- Exercise practice 3
- Exercise practice 4
- Exercise practice 5

APPLYING FOR A JOB: COVERING LETTERS & CVs.

A covering or motivation(al) letter is a letter of introduction attached to another document as a CV (curriculum vitae).

Job seekers normally send a cover letter along with their curriculum vitae or application for employment as a way of introducing themselves to potential employers, explaining their suitability for the desired post. Employers may look for individualized and thoughtfully written cover letters as a way of screening out applicants who aren't sufficiently interested in their position or who lack the necessary basic skills for it.

Cover letters are typically divided into 3 categories:

• The application letter or invited cover letter which responds to a known job opening
• The prospecting letter or uninvited cover letter which inquires about possible positions
• The networking letter which requests information and assistance in the sender's job search.

Some tips of how to write a covering letter and an example:

Curriculum vitae is a Latin expression which can be translated as the course of my life. A curriculum vitae (C.V.) gives an overview of a person's experience and other qualifications. In some countries a C.V. is typically the first item that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and it's typically used to screen applicants, often followed by a job interview.

Following is help to prepare a correct CV:

Links:
- ADVICE ON CVs (British Council)
- FILLING IN FORMS (British Council)
- WRITING A CV. (British Council)