ENTRANCING WEBSITES!

This week I have been wandering around different websites for teaching resources. I came across with two, which particularly got my attention.

• 1 ENGLISH FILMS

This webpage is amazing. You've got different lesson plannings with different videos. On the top of the page you can type the topic of the unit you want to work with in your class, or you could also type the level of the class, and different vídeos on different topics will come up. So let's say I have a class tomorrow and it's level B2 and we want to work on food. In this case I would go to the top of the page an click Food B2. And a video would show up with different questions, vocabulary and activities to work with. The videos are up to date and very interesting. Sometimes they are spoken and sometimes there's just music on them. Atached the web link http://film-english.com

• 2 NEWS IN LEVELS

This web is a web on news , as the title says. Basically they post news everyday on different topics (maybe not as juicy as the ones on the previous website though) . Besides, the good thing about this website is that they post the original new which is Level 3, but they also post another 2 adapted versions for Level 2 and Level 1. The video has also a transcript, so it looks very helpful really.

B2 ACTIVITY (COVERING SPEAKING, LISTENING, READING AND WRITING SKILLS)

This activity I am going to put forward is a great activity to boost different skills. It starts with a text (listening transcript) and a vocabulary activity to practice before listening to the recording. Once the class has read the text and gone through different key words, the class is ready to listen to the recording. There are some questions regarding the text, to practice speaking skills. At the end of the class I have suggested two grammar points that I think it would be interesting to comment on. And finally, an essay for homework so that they can practice at home all the new words learnt in the class.

Attached is the text needed to work on this activity:

BEFORE LISTENING: 

(work with this vocabulary)

a. brought up

b. landlord

c. maintenance

d. settle down

e strike a balance

f. tidy up

g. troublesome

AFTER LISTENING- DISCUSSION:

Do you prefer living on your own or with your parents? Why?

Is money a crucial factor for you to decide whether to move out or not?

Why in some cultures do young people tend to live with their parents before they get married and others not? To what extent is this affected by traditional family valúes?

What qualities do you look for in a housemate?

Would you rather rent a house or buy one?

What do you think of this listening activity?

GRAMMAR POINTS:

1
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO...?
IT TAKES ME....
eg. It used to take me one hour fifteen minutes to travel to work.

2
I USED TO/ I AM USED TO/ I AM GETTING USED TO
eg. I’m getting used to my new life

FOR HOMEWORK:

In class, you have been discussing about the advantages and dissadvantages about living on your own and living with your family.  Now, she is asking you the following question:

Should teenagers fly the nest and live on their own when they turn 18?

Write an essay 140-190 words

Source:

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/i-wanna-talk-about/living-my-own

STRUCTURE FOR WRITING IN FCE (B2)

Este año han cambiado el formato de examen de FCE.  En writing ha habido varios cambios. En la primera parte los candidatos deben escribir un ESSAY obligatorio. En el segundo apartado los candidatos deben elegir entre: an email/letter, a report, an article, a review. Ademas no hay que olvidar que la extensión es de 140-180 palabras para cualquiera de las partes. 

Aquí adjunto ( aunque sea en imagen) la estructura de cada apartado:

PART 1. 

AN ESSAY

PART 2. 

2.1 A LETTER (INFORMAL /FORMAL)

2.2 AN ARTICLE 

2.3 A REVIEW

2.4 A REPORT

WRITING HOMEWORK FOR PET TEACHERS

Dejo un link de una página con writings nivel B1. He intentado recopilar los writings de esta página así como algunas otras que he encontrado, después he organizado los writings por semanas. Ideal si tienes un grupo de PET para organizarte con los ´weekly homework´!  

- Las páginas donde encontré la mayoría de los writings: 

1 http://digilander.libero.it/mgtund/pet%20writing%20100%20words.htm

2 http://timjulian.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/pet-writing-part-3-example-11.pdf

- Mi propuesta de writings divididos por semanas:

GREAT POEM , DEEP MEANING AND FANTASTIC TEXT WITH CONDITIONALS!

Un poema de Nadine Stair a sus 85 años de edad. 

La primera vez que leí este poema fue en un curso de inglés y todavía conservo la fotocopia. La adjunto aquí también. 

PDF preparado para utilizar en clase.