Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Shadowing: Let's Start with a Loving Revolution


Shadowing is a learning technique where you listen to a text in your target language, and then speak it aloud at the same time as the native speaker, so that you become his/her shadow.

The basic concept is as follows: listen to the audio once or twice, to make sure you understand what it is about. Then you listen to it again a few more times and repeat the words with a minimum delay, then you write down the words the speaker says until you have the whole audioscript. After that, you play the audio again until you can read it confidently at the same time as the native speaker. Finally, you get up from your seat to walk around the house repeating the exacts words as if you were the native person yourself.

So, here's my proposal to get started in this new technique: Become the shadow of Patch Adams. Patch Adams is an American physician, social activist, clown, and author who has some really interesting ideas to share with us about living in a healthy world. Please, don't do this for more than 2-3 minutes at a time, we should start doing this little by little to avoid frustration, ok?

"I want a world where no one alive can remember what the word war means..."

Possibly tricky vocabulary

Monday, October 26, 2015

Listening: Organic Farming

Dear all,

Now that we have finished working on the topic of Food, find below a listening practice for you to do at home. In this audio you will listen to a conversation between two friends, Brian and Sam. Brian approaches Sam as Sam's eating his lunch, and they start talking. You will have to match each speaker and his opinion in the following working sheet. The transcript is given after the task, but please try not to look at it immediately, ok? You will find the answer key at the end too.


Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Grammar for a Rainy Day


Find below the answer key to the Entry Checker leaflet from the coursebook. This is really a great review of basic grammar contents that should be mastered by Intermediate students, so go for it! And remember: if you have any major doubts or problems, please bring them up in class, the beginning of the year is the best time for it.
And, hey, the weather forecast says RAIN this weekend, so catching up with English grammar after a loooong summer doesn't sound like such a terrible thing, does it? Have a nice weekend anyway!

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Repeat after me, pleaseeeee


Ok guys, now that we're at the beginning of the year, this is the best time to make sure we're ready to make progress with our English, while having fun at the same time. Remember humor is one of the best strategies to feel ok with ourselves, to shake our shyness, to relax and follow the teacher when she's trying to help with our pronunciation... So, for starters, just have a laugh with Steve Martin and his hamburger...

More Grammar Revision Hurray!

Dear all,
In case you feel like going on with your grammar revision, knowing this is going to be a rainy long weekend, click on these links below and have lots of fun with the English grammar!
Also, as I mentioned in class, here you have the self-correction sheet for you to print and start recording old mistakes that should be swept away for good. Enjoy!