lunes, 31 de enero de 2011

Conversation Exchange with native speakers (Thanks Enrique!)

This is the name of the exchange group I told you last Wednesday: 'Madrid Babel'.


Everybody can join this group. In fact it's got a Facebook profile: 'Madrid Babel'.

This is some information about what this organisation consists of:

MADRID BABEL, THE FRIENDLIEST INTERNATIONAL MEETING POINT IN MADRID SINCE 2000 !!!
Meet people from all over the world, practise languages absolutely free & make new friends through our wide range of international activities:

EVERY WEDNESDAY > International Evening at 20:30 at The Quiet Man (Valverde, 44 - metro Tribunal or Gran Vía)

EVERY SUNDAY > International Afternoon at 19:00 at The Quiet Man (Valverde, 44 - metro Tribunal or Gran Vía)


PS: Check out the place in the following pics. See u in class. Teresa



viernes, 28 de enero de 2011

Finally, my last blog update of the week: Answers for the VOLUNTARY HOMEWORK

1.     You should put an extra jumper on so that you don’t get cold.
order
You should put an extra jumper on IN ODER NOT TO GET cold.
2.    I’ve kept the receipt for the shirt because it may not fit you.
in case
I’ve kept the receipt for the shirt IN CASE IT DOESN’T fit you.
3.    It’s a pity I don’t live nearer the school.
wish
I  WISH I LIVED nearer the school.
4.    Mr. Yates said it was Helen who had started the fight.
blamed
Mr. Yates BLAMED HELEN FOR STARTING the fight.
5.    “I’m sorry I’m late”, said Adrian.
apologized
Adrian APOLOGIZED FOR BEING late.
6.    The rescue team was unable to find the missing climbers.
succeed
The rescue team DIDN’T SUCCEED IN FINDIND the missing climbers.
7.    We demanded to see the manager.
insisted
We INSISTED ON SEEING the manager.
8.    His condition improved so rapidly that he went home four days after the operation.
such
There was SUCH AN IMPROVEMENT in his condition that he went home four days after the operation.
9.    I’m amazed by how much English he knows.
knowledge
His KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH amazes me.
10.  ‘Can you swim, Sarah?’ asked her teacher.
her
Sarah’s teacher asked her IF SHE WAS ABLE to swim.
11.   It’s too wet to play tennis today.
if
We could play tennis IF IT WASN’T/ WEREN’T SO/TOO wet today.
12.  It’s a good thing I spoke to you or I would have forgotten her birthday.
if
I would have forgotten her birthday IF I HADN’T SPOKEN to you.
13.  You can borrow it, but you must give it back next week.
as long as
You can borrow it AS LONG AS YOU GIVE it back next week.
14.  The goal keeper was injured, so maybe he isn’t playing today.
might
The goalkeeper was injured, so he MIGHT NOT BE PLAYING today.
15.  If you don’t give your essay tomorrow, there’ll be trouble!
better
You ‘D/HAD BETTER  GIVE me your essay tomorrow or there’ll be trouble.
16.  She’s unlikely to change her mind about the job.
probably
She PROBABLY WON’Tchange her mind about the job.
17.  Unemployment will probably rise in the next few months.
likely to
Unemployment IS LIKELY TO RISE in the next few months.
18.  My nephew began to play tennis in 1999.
since
My nephew HAS BEEN PLAYING TENNIS SINCE 1999.
19.  The last time I went swimming was three months ago.
for
I HAVEN’T BEEN SWIMMING for three months.
20. I don’t think I’m strong enough to lift it.
the
I don’t think I HAVE (GOT) THE STRENGHT to lift it.
21.  When I was young I wasn’t allowed to watch much TV.
let
When I was young my parents DIDN’T LET ME WATCH much TV.
22. I think you should tell your parents exactly what happened.
better
I think you ‘D/HAD BETTER TELL your parents exactly what happened.
23. She is happier than she used to be.
sad
She isn’t AS SAD AS SHE was before.
24. I was so tired after that walk.
such
It was SUCH A TIRING walk.
25. His exam mark was such a disappointment.
so
He was SO DISAPPOINTED  with his exam mark.










jueves, 27 de enero de 2011

More practice (VOLUNTARY)





More transformations!
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
1.     You should put an extra jumper on so that you don’t get cold.
order
You should put an extra jumper on __________________________ cold.
2.    I’ve kept the receipt for the shirt because it may not fit you.
in case
I’ve kept the receipt for the shirt ________________________ fit you.
3.    It’s a pity I don’t live nearer the school.
wish
I  _____________________________  nearer the school.
4.    Mr. Yates said it was Helen who had started the fight.
blamed
Mr. Yates ____________________________  the fight.
5.    “I’m sorry I’m late”, said Adrian.
apologized
Adrian _______________________________ late.
6.    The rescue team was unable to find the missing climbers.
succeed
The rescue team ________________________________ the missing climbers.
7.    We demanded to see the manager.
insisted
We ____________________________________ the manager.
8.    His condition improved so rapidly that he went home four days after the operation.
such
There was ____________________________________ in his condition that he went home four days after the operation.
9.    I’m amazed by how much English he knows.
knowledge
His ___________________________________________ amazes me.
10.  ‘Can you swim, Sarah?’ asked her teacher.
her
Sarah’s teacher asked ____________________________ to swim.
11.   It’s too wet to play tennis today.
if
We could play tennis ____________________________ wet today.
12.  It’s a good thing I spoke to you or I would have forgotten her birthday.
if
I would have forgotten her birthday ____________________________ to you.
13.  You can borrow it, but you must give it back next week.
as long as
You can borrow it __________________________________ it back next week.
14.  The goal keeper was injured, so maybe he isn’t playing today.
might
The goalkeeper was injured, so he ______________________________ today.
15.  If you don’t give your essay tomorrow, there’ll be trouble!
better
You ___________________________________________ me your essay tomorrow or there’ll be trouble.
16.  She’s unlikely to change her mind about the job.
probably
She _____________________________ change her mind about the job.
17.  Unemployment will probably rise in the next few months.
likely to
Unemployment ______________________________ in the next few months.
18.  My nephew began to play tennis in 1999.
since
My nephew ______________________________________ 1999.
19.  The last time I went swimming was three months ago.
for
I __________________________________  three months.
20. I don’t think I’m strong enough to lift it.
the
I don’t think I ________________________________ to lift it.
21.  When I was young I wasn’t allowed to watch much TV.
let
When I was young my parents ______________________________ much TV.
22. I think you should tell your parents exactly what happened.
better
I think you ____________________________________________ your parents exactly what happened.
23. She is happier than she used to be.
sad
She isn’t _________________________________________ was before.
24. I was so tired after that walk.
such
It was ____________________________________ walk.
25. His exam mark was such a disappointment.
so
He was ______________________________________ with his exam mark.



 Please write a comment in this entry (just your name will be enough!) if you had the time to do the extra practice. It's the only way I can find out the number of students who had the time to do extra homework.
I'll give you the answer key later or tomorrow...good luck.


Answer Key (Homework Wednesday 26/1/11) SELF-EVALUATION


Class # 21 Wednesday 26/1/11






Part 1: Transformations answers (HW)
Part 2: UNIT 4 Challenge Speaking/Vocabulary/Reading (page 36/37)
Part 3: Listening (Page 38)
Part 4: Transformations (I'll give you the answers in the next post so that you can check your own work. Questions? theclassdiaries@gmail.com)

Have a good weekend everybody!

miércoles, 26 de enero de 2011

Food for thought: Interesting article from The New York Times for students





Hello everyone,
If you have always wondered what are the best studying techniques out there (I have!) read this NYT article (click here nytimes.com).

As a quick summary, according to Science magazine (Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is considered one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals students who read a passage, then took a test asking them to recall what they had read, retained about 50 percent more of the information a week later than students who used two other methods (repeatedly studying the material and making diagrams)

See u in class,
Teresa

Question from students: How many types of berries are there?

Most popular & used berries

Raspberry

Blueberry

Strawberry

Cranberry

Mulberry

 You can check them here -list-of-different-kinds-of-berries

PS: A blackberry is both a fruit...and a smartphone ( handheld computers integrated with a mobile telephone)


Blackberry



Class # 20 Monday 24/1/11





Part 1: Answers for HW assignment (Transformations)
Part 2: Useful Phrases (page 32)
Part 3: End of Unit 3 Test
Part 4: Writing assignment for Unit 3-Write a Recipe (due date 2/2/11)

Recipes for English learning
Writing recipes will help you in two main areas: Food related vocabulary and  giving instructions.
The following recipe is for Chicken Kiev with a follow up guide to the basics of writing and sharing a recipe.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Ingredients:
·         4 whole chicken breasts
·         1/2 cup bread crumbs
·         1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
·         1 1/2 teaspoons oregano leaves
·         1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
·         1/4 teaspoon pepper
·         4 tablespoons softened butter
·         1 tablespoon chopped parsley
·         4 ounces cheese (any sharp cheese) cut into strips
·         5 ounces melted butter
Preparation (How to cook your meal)
1.      Pound chicken breasts until 1/4 inch thin
2.     Mix together in a bowl bread crumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon of oregano, crushed garlic, and pepper.
3.     In small bowl, stir together 4 tablespoons of melted butter, parsley and 1/2 teaspoon of oregano
4.     Spread melted butter mixture across the middle of each chicken breast
5.     Lay a strip of cheese into the mixture
6.     Fold the edges of the chicken breast over and roll the chicken breast
7.     Dip each chicken breast into the melted butter
8.     Roll each chicken breast in the bread crumb mixture
9.     Place chicken breasts in a 9 by 13 inch baking pan
10.   Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours
11.    Bake, uncovered, in a preheated 425° oven for 20 minutes
Important Vocabulary and Measurements
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters (almost 3 cm)
1 Cup = 250 ml   1 Tablespoon = 15 ml  1 Teaspoon = 5 ml

Dip = put into liquid
Grated = in tiny little flakes
Mix = usually with dry ingredients, combining ingredients
Pound = beat flat
Prep Time = time needed to prepare meal      Cook Time = time needed to cook meal
Refrigerate = put into refrigerator
Spread = put onto with a knife
Stir = usually with liquid ingredients, combining ingredients
Strip = thin, long piece
Bake = cook in oven
Cuisine = which country or tradition the meal comes from

Part 5: HW for Wednesday-Transformations (remember that the Transformation Test will be on Monday 31/1/11)