What are your family doing at the moment?

My husband is working at the moment. Perhaps he is sending an email or talking with a client. My children are playing with their toys in the living-room.

My parents are in their house and I'm sure they are watching TV while my sister and my brother are working.

What are your family doing???

Tell me in a comment ;-)

Remember to use the present continuous to talk about actions that are happening at the moment we are speaking.

Take a seat & make a friend

I came accross this video on the internet and I remembered we talked about friends in unit 1. Here you have a new way of making friends...

What do you think about it?

TOPIC: FRIENDS

You have many things to practise the topic of Friends. On my blog you can find the following:

1. A video podcast talking about friends and how we keep in touch with them.

2. An entry with two different videos of people answering the quesion: "What makes a good friend?"

3. A short video about best friends.

4. A video with an original idea to make friends.

5. An entry called "A friend in need is a friend indeed"

6. The best moments of the TV series Friends

Lots of resources to practise your listening. I hope you find it useful.

TOPIC: FAMILY

To practise the topic of family you have the following resources:

1. The song "We are family"

2. A video to revise family vocabulary

3. An entry on the TV series Modern Family

4. The podcast : Richard's family

5. An entry about the British Royal Family

6. A listening about British Royal Family

Oral Presentations

When we make an oral presentation the planning time is vital. If you use your time correctly you will be prepared and relaxed for speaking.

In your planning time you will plan:

1. The structure

The structure will always be the same:

• introduction (OR opening paragraph)
• body
• conclusion (OR closing paragraph)

2. The content

The content will vary according to what you are asked to speak about, but alway think about what you are going to say and organise your ideas.

Write key words to help you develop your ideas later. Do not write full sentences, that is a waste of time and they will confuse you when you are speaking.

3. The language

Think about useful vocabulary, expressions, verb tenses, etc. you will need according to what you are going to say.

If you don't know a word, look for a synonym or try to paraphrase it. 
If you don't know how to say something, change your information or omit that part.


For homework you have to talk about your favorite photo. 

Your notes should have an aspect similar to this:



STRUCTURE & IDEAS

Introduction

photo with my husband & daughters

in the swimming pool at Costa Los Gigantes 

Body

long weekend with the family

games with the children in the swimming pool

meal all together

great time

Conclusion

no special place, on my laptop

love it, smiley faces, happy photo, fantastic weekend


USEFUL LANGUAGE

there is/ there are

adjectives to describe the physical appearance

present tenses: past simple & continuous

prepositions of place

Prepositions of Place: practice

1. Complete the sentences with in / at / on.

1. Don't sit _______ the grass. It's wet.
2. What have you got _______ your bag?
3. Look! There's a man _______ the roof. What's he doing?
4. There are a lot of fish _______ this river.
5. Our house is number 45 -the number is _______ the door.
6. Is the post office near here?     Yes, turn left _______ the traffic lights.
7. It's difficult to park _______ the city centre. It's better to take the bus.
8. My sister lives _______ Brussels.
9. There's a small park _______ the top of the hill.
10. I think I heard the doorbell. There's somebody _______ the door.
11. Munich is a large city _______ the south of Germany.
12. There are a few shops _______ the end of the street.
13. It's difficult to carry a lot of things _______ a bicycle.
14. I looked at the list of names. My name was _______ the bottom.
15. There is a mirror _______ the wall _______ the living room.


2. Complete the sentences with in / at / on.

1. Helen is studying law _______ university.
2. There was a big table _______ the middle of the room.
3. What is the longest river _______ the world?
4. Where there many people _______ the concert last night?
5. Will you be _______ home tomorrow afternoon?
6. Who is the man _______ this photograph? Do you know him?
7. Where are your children? Are they _______ school?
8. Gary is coming by train. I'm going to meet him _______ the train station.
9. Charlie is _______ hospital. He had an operation yesterday.
10. How many pages are there _______ this book?
11. Are you hungry after your journey?    No, I had something to eat _______ the train.
12. I'm sorry I'm late. My car broke down _______ the way here.
13. Is Tom here?      No, he's _______ his brother's.
14. Don't believe everything you see _______ the newspaper!
15. I walked to work, but I came home _______ the bus.











ANSWER KEY:
1)

1. on 2. in 3. on 4. in 5. on 6. at 7. in 8. in 9. at 10. at 11. in 12. at 13. on 14. at 15. on, in

2)

1. at 2. in 3. in 4. at 5. at 6. in 7. at 8. at 9. in 10. in 11. on 12. on 13. at 14. in 15. on. 

  

Prepositions of place: in, at, on

Prepositions of Place At_on_in by LauGalindo

Complete the sentences with the correct preposition in, at, on.

1. The children are playing _____ the park.
2. I love having lunch _____ the garden.
3. I'll wait for you _____ the bus stop.
4. I love that painting _____ the wall.
5. There too many things _____ that cupboard.
6. I think I left my mobile phone _____ my desk, but I can't find it.
7. My bags are _____ my bedroom.
8. I met him yesterday _____ the cinema.
9. I'll pick you up _____ the airport at six.
10. We live _____ the second floor.


Click here if you want to practise a bit more.




















ANSWER KEY:

1. in
2. in
3. at
4. on
5. in
6. on
7. in
8. at
9. at
10. on

Present Continuous

Present Continuous

Present Simple

Let's start the year by making sure we all know how to speak about our daily routines. For this, we need to use the present simple. You already studied the present simple last year in Basic 1, but let's refresh it, study the notes and watch the videos below.

Present Simple

Present Simple for routines

How to make questions in the present simple

Now practise your grammar by writing a comment to my post What do you usually do on Saturdays?

What do you usually do on Saturdays?

I don't work on Saturday, so I like to have a lazy morning on Saturdays. I usually get up about 8 o'clock when my children wake up ;-P . I give them their breakfast and my husband goes to buy some bread. We have breakfast together and then I cook some lunch while I listen to music and my husband does some housework. Then, we always go for a walk or we take the kids to the park. 
We feed the kids and then we have lunch around 2 pm, while the girls sleep we watch a film. We often have lunch with our family. In the afternoon we go to the swimming-pool or to the beach. We sometimes meet our friends or invite them to have dinner at home.




What do you usually do on Saturdays???

Tell me in a comment :-)


Remember to use the present simple to speak about routines and use the frequency adverbs to say how often you do something.

Coffee OR tea??

What do you prefer coffee or tea?


Listen to some people answering this question:

I'm a coffee person! I like drinking my coffee every morning in front of the computer, but sometimes I also enjoy a nice cup of tea.

What about you??

Personality Adjectives

What do you call a person who....?

• talks a lot
• is quick at learning and understanding things
• doesn't want to work
• is open and warm
• doesn't talk much
• who works a lot
• isn't friendly
• doesn't like sharing things with other people
• makes people laugh
• can't talk easily to people they don't know

Check your notes and correct your answers ;-)

Word order in questions

Hello everyone,

Next week we will work on Unit 1A. To get ready for that this is what I want you to do:

• Go through the notes below about Word order in questions
• Do the activities on the document
• Do the activities from the Student's Book page 5, excercise 2a and 2b.

Word Order in Questions by LauGalindo

We will practise in class once you have studied the grammar at home.

Have a nice weekend!!





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LISTENING: The Royal Baby

Listen to the podcast about the royal baby George Alexander Louis, The Duke and Duchess' of Cambridge son, and decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F):


1. The baby's full name is George Alexander Lucy.

2. He was born 21 July 2013.

3. The queen is great-grandmother.

4 .Only the British are interested in the new baby.

5. The sex of the baby was a surprise.

6. The baby was expected 30 July so it was early.

7. The name was decided 2 days after the birth.

8. Prince William's name was decided immediately.

9. Prince Charles' name was decided 4 weeks after his birth.

10. George is a traditional name.

11. George is the king of 7 names in the past.

12. George VI was really called Albert

13. After Elizabeth II Prince Charles will be king.

14. Prince William cannot change his name to Georfe.

15. Jackie wants George to be a king one day.



Look at the photos below. Kate is holding George and Diana is holding William. What do they look like?

ANSWER KEY:

1. F
2. F
3. T
4. F
5. T
6. F
7. T
8. F
9. T
10. T
11. T
12. F
13. F
14. T
15. T

Listening: Richard's Family

Listen to the podcast where a man called Richard talks about his family and answer the following questions.



1. Decide if the following sentences are true (T) of false (F).

a. Sometimes people think Aunty Beryl is Richard's mum.
b. Both Richard's nephew and niece are at school.
c. Jack is going to university in October.
d. Aunty Beryl is married.
e. Richard has two cousins.
f. Aunty Beryl took the photo of the family.


2. Answer the following questions.

a. How old are Aunty Beryl and Richard's mum?
b. What does Sue do?
c. What does Kevin do?
d. How old is Jack?
e. How old is Joanne?








ANSWER KEY:
1.

a. T
b. T
c. F
d. T
e. F
f. T

2.

a. They're both 80.
b. She's a secretary.
c. He's an architect.
d. He's 18.
e. She's 16.

Modern Family

Do you know the TV series Modern Family?

Have a look at the trailer below. Watch several times if you need to.

Do you remember the characters?
Can you say who's who?

What do you think of this family? Does it really represent a "modern family"?


Below you have the very first episode of the series, it's not too long so that you won't get too bored if you can't follow it.

It is an authentic TV programme so do NOT worry if you can't understand everything.

Friends Best Moments (Friends the TV series ;-)

If you liked the TV series Friends you'll love this compilation! It's a 10 minute video with different scenes from the series. 

Watch and have fun. Don't worry if you don't understand everything....

Did you watch Friends? Do you like it?

Family vocabulary

Watch the video to revise the family vocabulary

We are family, Sister Sledge

Sister Sledge, We are family

Listen to the song and complete the lyrics with the missing sentences.

MISSING SENTENCES:

A. (WE!) no we don't get depressed

B. (ALL) all of the people around us they say

C. We're giving love in a family dose

D. This is our family Jewel

E. Everyone can see we're together

[Chorus]
We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing

1. __________________
As we walk on by
(FLY!) and we fly just like birds of a feather
I won't tell no lie
2. __________________
Can they be that close?
Just let me state for the record
3. __________________

[Chorus:Repeat x2]

Living life is fun and we've just begun
To get our share of the world's delights
(HIGH!) high hopes we have for our future
And our goal is in sight
4. __________________
Here's what we call our golden rule
Have faith in you and the things you do
You won't go wrong
5. __________________

[Chorus:Repeat x3]

ANSWER KEY: 

1. E

2. B

3. C

4. A

5. D

A friend in need is a friend indeed

Below you have a video telling you what a good friend is like.

Do YOU agree with the ideas from the video?

The first sign in the video is that "you can count on them for the big stuff" that means you can count of them when you have problems and that relates with the saying "A friend in need is a friend indeed" that means that "that a friend who helps you when you really need help is a true friend". 

Bruno Mars has a song called "Count on me" expressing the same idea. 

Listen to it and complete the lyrics with the correct verb. You might need the verbs more than once.

Count on me, Bruno Mars

HELP               SEE                 SING                 FIND               NEED                        HAVE

If you ever 1.__________ yourself stuck in the middle of the sea

I'll sail the world to find you

If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't 2.__________ 

I'll be the light to guide you.

Find out what we're made of

When we are called to 3.__________ our friends in need

You can count on me like one, two, three, I'll be there

And I know when I 4.__________ it

I can count on you like four, three, two, you'll be there

'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do,

oh yeah , oooooh oooooh , yeah yeah

If you're tossin` and you're turnin' and you just can't fall asleep

I'll 5.__________ a song beside you

And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me

Everyday I will remind you

oh oh oh

Find out what we're made of

When we are called to 6.__________ our friends in need.

You can count on me like one, two, three, I'll be there

And I know when I 7.__________ it

I can count on you like four, three, two, you'll be there

'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do

oh yeah , oooh oooh , yeah yeah

You'll always 8.__________ my shoulder when you cry

I'll never let go, never say goodbye

You know you can count on me like one, two, three, I'll be there

And I know when I 9.__________ it

I can count on you like four, three, two, and you'll be there

'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do

oh yeah

oooooh ooooooh

ooh yea yea

You'll always 10.__________ my shoulder when you cry

I'll never let go, Never say goodbye

You know you can count on me like one, two, three

I'll be there

And I know when I 11.__________ it

I can count on you like four, three, two

And you'll be there

Cause that's what friends are supposed to do

Oh yea

Ooohhh Ooohhh

Oohh

You can count on me 'cause I can count on you...

Now watch this video where you have the lyrics so you can check your answers.