Reading resources

Reading books is essential to improve your English level. It'll help you to widen your vocabulary, learn grammar structures and it's fun! Below you can find links to the Macmillan Readers website where you can find graded books adapted to your level.

-A1: Elementary

-A2:  Pre-intermediate.

-B1: Intermediate

You can buy the books online or order there in your local bookshop. You can also buy them new or second-hand in Amazon.



So why don't you take advantage of Christmas holidays to start reading? 

A2: Cambridge Exam

Are you taking the Cambridge KET exam (A2)? Click here for useful information about the test.

You can also dowload a guide with information about the format and different parts of the exam.

 Cambridge English Language Assessment

http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-qualifications/key/

A2: Vocabulary list

Are you taking the KET exam? Click here to find a list of the words you must know. Go through the words and their meaning.

Cambridge English
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/Images/22105-ket-vocabulary-list.pdf

A2: Monday Classes

Note for the students of the A2 group who meet on Mondays from 8 to 10 pm;

Our next class will take place on January 13th.

As I told you in class, I've uploaded the Cambridge Vocabulary List for A2 so you can work on it during the holidays.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Eva  

Movers Vocabulary

A continuación podéis encontrar links para practicar el vocabulario que aparece en el examen de Movers.

-Days of the week and sports (días de la semana y deportes)
-Big or small (adjectivos opuestos)
-Bigger or smaller? (comparativos)
-The biggest and the smallest (superlativos)
-Familia (family)
-Describing people (adjectivos

Games for Movers

¿Queréis practicar el vocabulario de Movers de forma divertida? Aquí tenéis unos links con juegos de vocabulario.

-Hair (pelo)
-Health (salud)
-Hobbies (tiempo libre)
-Places (lugares)
-Places 2 (lugares 2)
-Food (comida)
-Clothes (ropa)
-Animals (animales)
-Adjectives (adjetivos)

Movers: Speaking Test

Aquí podéis ver un ejemplo de examen oral del nivel Movers

Games for kids

Click here to practise your English with games.

Have fun!



Learn English Kids
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/

Movers: Reading and Writing

Aquí podéis encontrar un ejemplo de la parte de Reading and Writing del examen de Movers de Cambridge. Las respuestas correctas vienen al final,  ¡pero no las miréis hasta que no hayáis terminado!

Cambridge English

http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/

¿Cómo son los exámenes para niños de Cambridge?

Starters Listening: Colour a bird picture

Aquí podéis encontrar un ejercicio de listening parecido al que aparece en el examen de Cambridge para Starters.

The alphabet in English/El alfabeto en inglés

Do you still have problems with the alphabet? Click here to have a look at how each letter is pronounced. You can also click on the green symbol to listen to each sound.

Remember the alphabet is extremely important to communicate effectively in English and you're often required to spell your name and surname in the Cambridge exams, so it's time to practise!

(¿Todavía no has aprendido el alfabeto en inglés. Haz click aquí para acceder a una web donde podrás ver cómo se pronuncia cada sonido. Además, puedes escuchar cómo se pronuncia cada letra si haces click sobre el símbolo verde.

Recordad que conocer el alfabeto es muy important para comunicarse en inglés y en los exámenes de Cambridge a menudo los candidatos tienen que deletrear su nombre o apellido así que...¡es hora de ponerse a practicar!)


Puro Inglés
http://www.puroingles.com/pronunciacion-del-abecedario-en-ingles

B2 Speaking

In this video you can see students take the FCE Speaking exam with comments by examiners.

A2: Halloween Listenings

Click below to listen to Blaine and Jason talking about Halloween.

Blaine: I like Halloween

Jason: Halloween and its traditions

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

FCE Sample Paper Audios

Dear B2 students,

Below is a link where you can find the audios for the listening comprehension test we did in class last Wednesday.
Click on the following link and then download the "sample papers for Cambridge English: First (FCE)"

Download sample papers for Cambridge English: First (FCE)

Reported Speech.Writing.Part1.

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Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

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What is reported speech?

Reported speech is when you tell somebody else what you or a person said before.
Distinction must be made between direct speech and reported speech.

Direct speech vs Reported speech:

Direct speech	Reported speech
She says: "I like tuna fish."	She says that she likes tuna fish.
She said: "I'm visiting Paris next weekend"	She said that she was visiting Paris the following weekend.

Different types of sentences

When you use reported speech, you either report:

• Statements
• questions
• requests / commands
• other types

A. Reporting Statements

When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

• pronouns
• tense
• place and time expression

1- Pronouns

In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who says what.

Example:
She says, “My dad likes roast chicken.” – She says that her dad likes roast chicken.

2- Tenses

• If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in Reported speech.
  
• If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in Reported speech.
  

	Direct speech	Reported speech
(no backshift)	“I write poems.”	He says that he writes poems.
(backshift)	“I write poems.”	He said that he wrote poems.

No backshift
Do not change the tense if the introductory clause is in a present tense (e. g. He says). Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the present tense verb (3rd person singular).

Example:
He says, “I write poems.” – He says that he writes English.

Backshift
You must change the tense if the introductory clause is in a past tense (e. g. He said).

Example:
He said, “I am happy.” – He said that he was happy.

Examples of the main changes in tense:

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
Simple Present He said: "I am happy"	Simple Past He said that he was happy
Present Progressive He said: "I'm looking for my keys"	Past Progressive He said that he was looking for his keys
Simple Past He said: "I visited New York last year"	Past Perfect Simple He said that he had visited New York the previous year.
Present Perfect He said: " I've lived here for a long time "	Past Perfect He said that he had lived there for a long time
Past Perfect He said: "They had finished the work when I arrived"	Past Perfect He said that they had finished the work when he had arrived"
Past Progressive He said: "I was playing football when the accident occurred"	Past Perfect Progressive He said that he had been playing football when the accident had occurred
Present Perfect Progressive He said:"I have been playing football for two hours."	Past Perfect Progressive He said that he had been playing football for two hours
Past Perfect Progressive He said: "I had been reading a newspaper when the light went off"	Past Perfect Progressive He said that he had been reading a newspaper when the light had gone off
Future Simple (will+verb) He said: "I will open the door."	Conditional (would+verb) He said that he would open the door.
Conditional (would+verb) He said: "I would buy Mercedes if I were rich"	Conditional (would+verb) He said that he would buy Mercedes if he had been rich"

The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn't, ought to, used to do not normally change.
Example:
He said, “She might be right.” – He said that she might be right.

3- Place, demonstratives and time expressions

Place, demonstratives and time expressions change if the context of the reported statement (i.e. the location and/or the period of time) is different from that of the direct speech.
In the following table, you will find the different changes of place; demonstratives and time expressions.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
Time Expressions
today	that day
now	then
yesterday	the day before
… days ago	… days before
last week	the week before
next year	the following year
tomorrow	the next day / the following day
Place
here	there
Demonstratives
this	that
these	those

B. Reporting Questions

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

• pronouns
• place and time expressions
• tenses (backshift)

Also note that you have to:

• transform the question into an indirect question
• use the question word (where, when, what, how) or if / whether

Types of questions	Direct speech	Reported speech
With question word (what, why, where, how...)	"Why" don’t you speak English?”	He asked me why I didn’t speak English.
Without question word (yes or no questions)	“Do you speak English?”	He asked me whether / if I spoke English.

Agreement.Disagreement.Speaking Part2,3.

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Agreement, Partial Agreement And Disagreement.

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Agreement, partial agreement and disagreement

The way people agree or disagree in an argument or discussion varies in different languages.

Agreement:

It is worthwhile saying that silence is not understood as agreement. If you agree with an opinion or an idea, you are expected to say so.

Expressions

There is no doubt about it that...
I completely / absolutely agree with you.
I agree with you entirely.
I totally agree with you.
I simply must agree with that.
I am of the same opinion.
That’s exactly what I think.

Disagreement:

Expressing disagreement is always respected as honest, and sometimes as courageous.

Expressions

I'm afraid, I can't agree with you.
The problem is that...
I (very much) doubt whether...
This is in complete contradiction to...
With all due respect,…
I am of a different opinion because ...
I cannot share this / that / the view.
I cannot agree with this idea.
What I object to is...
I have my own thoughts about that.

Partial agreement:

You can also agree but with reservation especially when there is a doubt or feeling of not being able to accept something completely

Expressions

It is only partly true that...
That’s true, but…
I can agree with that only with reservations.
That seems obvious, but...
That is not necessarily so.
It is not as simple as it seems.
I agree with you in principle, but…
I agree with you in part, but…
Well, you could be right.

Paraphrasing.

More tasks on paraphrasing.Writing Part1.

Q10 - The new hospital has more beds than the old one

The old hospital had as many beds as the new one
The old hospital had fewer beds than the new one

Q11 - Everybody liked the film

The new film was very popular
The new film was very good

Q12 - You should take the pills before meals

The pills should be taken before meals
The pills must be taken before meals

Q13 - There are thousands of great paintings in the National Gallery

The National Gallery are thousands of great paintings
The National Gallery has thousands of great paintings

Q14 - There are five churches in the town

The town had five churches
The town has five churches

Q15 - She makes more money than her husband

Her husband makes less money than she does
Her husband makes fewer money than she does

Writing.Part 1.

Quiz: PET Writing (Part 1)

Q1 - There are three cinemas in the complex

The complex has three cinemas
The complex have three cinemas

Q2 - The doctor has three evening sessions

There is three evening sessions at the doctor's
There are three evening sessions at the doctor's

Q3 - The new supermarket is cheaper than the old one.

The old supermarket is not as expensive as the new one
The old supermarket is more expensive than the new one

Q4 - The town has two old markets

There are two old markets in the town
There is two old markets in the town

Q5 - Private colleges are more expensive than state ones

State colleges are not as cheap as private ones
State colleges are not as expensive as private ones

Q6 - There are two rugby teams at their school

Their schools have two rugby teams
Their school has two rugby teams

Q7 - Somebody took a lot of pictures at the party

A lot of pictures were taken by somebody at the party
A lot of pictures were taken at the party

Q8 - Newspapers are cheaper than magazines

Magazines are more expensive than newspapers
Magazines are as expensive as newspapers

Q9 - The policeman asked him to open his bag

'Please open your bag,' the policeman asked
'Open your bag,' the policeman said

Writing part 1.

Paraphrasing

Complete each sentence using the word given so that it means the same as the sentence before it. Use no more than five words.

1. My grandfather always said there was an explanation for everything. USED

My grandfather always ___  there was an explanation for everything.

2. I have never believed in UFOs until I saw one. BELIEVE

I ____ in UFOs until I saw one.

3. My aunt did great card tricks whenever he came to visit.  WOULD

My aunt ___ great card tricks whenever he came to visit.

4. Sue's sure she saw ghosts regularly when she was a small child. TO

Sue's sure she____ ghosts regularly when she was a small child.

The chart to help you express your attitude and opinion.

Opinions in favour	Pronun. Figurada	Fonética	Significado
I like this option because	ai laik dis opshion bikoss	aj lajk ðɪs ɑpʃən bɪkɒz	Me gusta esta opción porque
I think the best option is	ai zink de best opshion is	aj θɪŋk ðə bɛst ɑpʃən ɪz	Creo que la mejor opción es
I agree. This is the best option	ai agri. dis is de best opshion	aj əgri. ðɪs ɪz ðə bɛst ɑpʃən	Estoy de acuerdo. Esta es la mejor opción.
I couldn't agree with you more.	ai kudn’t agri wiz iu mor	aj kʊdənt əgri wɪθ ju mɔr."	No puedo estar más de acuerdo contigo.
You're right.	iur rait	jʊr rajt.	Tienes razón.
You’re absolutely right	iur absolutli rait	jʊr æbsəlutli rajt	Tienes toda la razón.
I totally agree.	ai totali agri	aj totəli əgri.	Estoy completamente de acuerdo
Under my view it’s the best we can do	ander mai viu	əndər maj vju ɪts ðə bɛst wi kæn du	En mi opinion es lo mejor que podemos hacer
Opinions against	Pronun. Figurada	Fonética	Significado
I don’t like this option because	ai dont laik dis opshion	aj dont lajk ðɪs ɑpʃən bɪkɒz	No me gusta esta opción porque
I'm not sure I agree with you.	aim not shur ai agri wiz iu	ajm nɑt ʃʊr aj əgri wɪθ ju.	No estoy seguro de estar de acuerdo
I’m afraid I don't agree.	aim afreid ai dont agri	ajm əfred aj dont əgri.	Me temo que no estoy de acuerdo
I disagree because..	ai disagri bikoss	aj dɪsəgri bɪkɒz..	No estoy de acuerdo porque
I'm afraid I can't agree with you.	aim afreid ai kant agri wiz iu	ajm əfred aj kænt əgri wɪθ ju."	Me temo que no puedo estar de acuerdo contigo
I’m sorry but I don't share your opinion.	aim sory bat ai dont sher ior opinion	ajm sɑri bət aj dont ʃɛr jɔr əpɪnjən.	Lo siento, pero no comparto tu/su opinión
I'm not sure I agree with you.	aim not sher ai agri wiz iu	ajm nɑt ʃʊr aj əgri wɪθ ju.	No estoy seguro de estar de acuerdo contigo
I’m sorry but I don’t think what you’re saying is right	aim sory bat ai dont zink uat iur seing is rait	ajm sɑri bət aj dont θɪŋk wət jʊr seɪŋ ɪz rajt	Lo siento, pero no creo que lo que está diciendo es correcto.
Suggestions	Pron. Figurada	Fonética	Significado
We could do this	wi kud do dis	wi kʊd du ðɪs	Podríamos hacer esto
How about doing this?	hau abaut duin dis?	haw əbawt duɪŋ ðɪs?	¿Qué tal si hacermos esto?
Why don’t we do this?	wai dont wi du dis?	waj dont wi du ðɪs?	¿Por qué no hacemos esto?
What do you think about this?	uat du iu zink abaut dis?	wət du ju θɪŋk əbawt ðɪs?	¿Qué piensas de esto?
Opinions	Pronun. Figurada	Fonética	Significado
From my point of view	from mai point of viu	frəm maj pɔjnt əv vju	Desde mi punto de vista
As I see it ..	as ai sii it	æz aj si ɪt ..	Como yo lo veo
On one hand I understand what you want to do, but on the other hand.	on uan hand ai anderstand uat iu uant tu du, bat on de ader hand	ɑn wən hænd aj əndərstænd wət ju wɑnt tu du, bət ɑn ðə əðər hænd.	Por un lado entiendo lo que quiere(s), pero por otro lado
I partially agree we can do it, but I would like to...	ai parsheli agri, wi kan du it, bat ai wud laik tu	aj pɑrʃəli əgr, wi kæn du ɪt, bət aj wʊd lajk tu...	Estoy de acuerdo en parte que lo podemos hacer, pero me gustaría
Let me put it this way..	let mi putit dis wei	lɛt mi pʊt ɪt ðɪs we..	Déjame/déjeme decirlo de esta manera.

Use this phrases to disagree: If you do not mind.., I am afraid ( Me temo ...), I am sorry,but...

Speaking.Photos.Dialogues.

Speaking.Photos.Practise your dialogues.

Look at the pictures below. You work in an online magazine. You are trying to increase the number of readers and you have to choose the picture which best illustrates the places where people like to go on their winter holidays,

• Choose one of the three pictures and justify your choice.
• Discuss your choice with the examiner. He/she willl have a different opinion
• Negotiate until you reach an agreement.

• Student A: I think the best picture to call the attention of readers is the one in the middle because it's winter. It shows several skiers in a nice location in the mountains.
• Student B/Examiner: I'm sorry but I don't agree with you. In the winter people like to think of places where it's warm. The first picture is the best one because it gives the reader the opportunity to daydream.
• Student A: I'm afraid that isn't the best option because it isn't a realistic destination. I mean now, with the crisis, nobody can afford to go to the Caribbean in the middle of the winter.
• Student B/Examiner: Precisely because of that the best option is the first picture. People love to daydream when they can't afford something.
• Student A: But I've seen that there are a lot of skiers among our readers.
• Student B/Examiner: How do you know that? Where did you get those numbers from?
• Student A; Well, I don't have any numbers. It's just that I have seen our magazine in the hotel where I last went skiing and in a couple of ski shops where I get my own gear.
• Student B/Examiner: I'm sorry to say this, but then the information is not relevant. You need to use statistics coming from our website.
• Student A: Well, you have been working with this magazine for a long time so I suppose you know much better than I do.
• Student B/Examiner: Well, I don't want to sound arrogant but that's right.
• Student A: Then, the wisest thing to do is to put the picture of the people on the beach.
• Student B/Examiner: We can put the picture of the skiers in our next reportage about the best ski resorts.
• Student A: I totally agree with that. 
  
  
  Now, it is your turn to create your own dialogue.
  
  
  Remember you CAN DO IT !  WORK HARD TO PASS YOUR TEST!

Description of pictures.Phrases.

Useful phrases for describing pictures

• crowded streets
• hurrying passers-by
• colourful shop signs
• car horns beeping

• burning sand
• crystal-clear water
• swying palm trees
• cries of tropical birds

• colourful,bright stalls
• cheerfully shouting stallholders
• glossy green peppers
• fresh smell of fish

• major motorway
• wide concrete bridge
• new block of flats
• a huge shopping centre

Writing.Part1.

WRITING. PART 1.

Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as first.

1. The new shopping centre has been opened for a week.
2. The new shopping centre .......a week ago.
   
   
3. We spent half an hour driving to the centre.
4. It took us half an hour.........to the centre.

5. The car park had five lifts.
6. There were five lifts.....the car park.
   
   
7. The first shop was so big that we got lost in it.
8. We got lost in the first shop.....it was big.
   
   
9. It was 4.30 p.m when we left the centre.
10. We did not leave the centre....4.30 p.m

Articles

GRAMMAR. Articles.

Sometimes students get confused and do not know how to use articles . They ask me to give them more examples that show the appropriate use of articles.

Here I go :

The definite article, the, can refer backwards in a conversation or text to something already mentioned.

… my sister there hid a little parcel in my suitcase, so when I was unpacking the case I had a really cool surprise ...

It can also refer forwards to something which is going to be mentioned or explained.

Could you bring me the knife which you gave me?The friend of hers who's looking after us ...

Does the always refer backwards or forwards?

No, it can also refer to shared knowledge or general knowledge. Both the listener and the speaker (or the writer and the reader) know what is being referred to.

But I'll try to connect from the hotel every evening.
I think Mum is hoping to see George Clooney at the bus stop.

OK, I understand those rules, but I’ve seen lists of different uses of the.

All right, I can give more specific examples, but they fit into the three areas I’ve given you. We use the when there is only one of something (in the world, the country, your town, the house, etc.), and we know what it is.

And is the internet connection good?
They're like ... like the poster you've got in your room, Daisy.

We use the with superlatives – again, we are talking about one thing.

The chocolate here is the best in the world.

With some adjectives which refer to one thing –  for example first, last, next –  we also use the.

… this is the third day ...

When referring forwards, we often use a relative clause.

That’s the friend who is looking after us.

Isn’t the used with musical instruments, like: “I play the guitar”?

Yes, we sometimes use the in fixed expressions for musical instruments, entertainment and transport.

He plays the piano brilliantly.
They’re going to the opera tonight. (Also -  the cinema, the football, the shops, etc.)
We took a taxi to the airport. (Also - the bus stop, the station, etc.)

So even if there are three cinemas in my town, I would still say: “I went to the cinema last night”?

Yes, you would. We also sometimes use the to talk about groups of people or types of animals or things in general.

The unemployed are asking for more help from the government. (also: the poor, the old, the homeless, the deaf, etc.)The wolf is the largest member of the dog family.  (formal)The Swiss watch is an amazing piece of engineering.

And we can use the with nationalities, like “The Swiss make great chocolate”?

Yes, that’s right. You're good at this!    

What about talking about things in general? Can I say “The life is very expensive” or “I love the sport.”?

No, we don’t use the definite article to generalise about abstract things. You’d say: “Life is very expensive” and “I love sport”. If we’re generalising about things we usually use the plural form (for countable nouns) or singular (uncountable nouns).

She’s frightened of spiders. (= spiders in general)
Lasagne is delicious! (= lasagne in general)
Thanks for dinner. The lasagne was incredible! (= one particular lasagne)

But you used “the wolf” earlier to talk about wolves in general.

Yes, but that was more formal language, for example what you would read in an encyclopaedia.  We usually use no article to generalise.

What about geography words? Words for rivers and seas and things?

Ah, you mean proper nouns or names of things. Here are some categories where we use the, with examples:Rivers: the Thames
Mountain ranges: the Alps
Oceans and seas: the Pacific / the Red Sea
Deserts: the Sahara
Islands (groups): the Bahamas
Countries if + political term / plural: the UK / the USA / the United Arab Emirates
Political institutions: the Government / the Monarchy
Newspapers (usually part of the title): The Times / The Guardian
Cinemas / theatres / hotels: the Odeon / the Holiday Inn

So we don't use the before lakes, forests, cities or towns?

No, not usually. And not usually before streets in towns.

Well, there’s more to the definite article than meets the eye!

Mm, that reminds me, more than meets the eye – there are a lot of idioms with the too. For another time!

Hope this helps.