Digging for English

jueves, 14 de abril de 2011

REAL ENGLISH

LEARNING REAL ENGLISH

Here is a collection of episodes of The Flatmates, from the BBC's learning English website. You can follow the adventures of the main characters in different real life situations and read what they are saying to help you understand. This is a great way to improve your English listening comprehension.

We have also provided English definitions for the most difficult words, to help you learn more quickly.

Definitions for difficult words in Flatmates

You can find all the episodes here:

The Flatmates TV Series

miércoles, 13 de abril de 2011

THE FUTURE TENSES

Don't you think the best way of starting something is with a song?

This is a further step on the right use of the future tenses in English. You can read a little introduction for this tense in this ppt:

TIME FOR THE FUTURE We are going to review the future tenses now.

1) To start with, watch these videos dealing with will, present continuous and going to.

Do you want to know which is the difference between using Present Continuous or going to? Click on this link:

Press here!

TIME FOR THE PRACTICE

Speaking: Let’s play to this wonderful game! It is available for all levels!
Game!

Listening: Listen to this song and fill in the gaps taking into account your level of English. Why don’t we sing all together afterwards?
http://www.lyricstraining.com/game4887.htm

Writing: Tarot cards! Make them yourself. Draw about 20 simple little pictures which represent such things as: travel, heart, broken heart, money, no money, family, man, woman, child, time, death!, fire, loneliness /independence, power/strength, weakness, be careful, foolishness, devil, work, etc.. You can have the students help you draw them and/or discuss how each image makes them feel. Then introduce simple future tense and tell each other's fortunes! Good for all levels! Great fun for everyone!

Reading: Here, you can practice your reading.

Beginner: Read and order this text.

Breedlove builds his car in a garage in the small town of Rio Vista, California. His wife Marilyn and the crew live with the project 24 hours a day. It has taken 23 years to get his idea made into a car. In early October, he will learn if his idea works.

He will ride in a five wheeled hot rod. It has a Navy jet engine. The last time he raced, two parachutes failed. He burned the brakes out in the car. Then he went through a telephone pole. He finally ended up in a salt water canal. He had to swim out of it.

Now he wants to go the speed of sound. He has built a car with a jet engine. He will try to go 765 miles per hour on land.

Years ago, Craig Breedlove set speed records. He raced across flat land made of salt. He went as fast as 600 miles per hour in his special car.

Intermediate: Read and complete.

Advanced: Read this document and choose the correct answer.

Planning a Party

(two neighbors talking)

Martha:...What horrible weather today. I'd love to go out, but I think it will just continue raining.
Jane:Oh, I don't know. Perhaps the sun will come out later this afternoon.

Martha:I hope you're right. Listen, I'm going to have a party this Saturday. Would you like to come?
Jane:Oh, I'd love to come. Thank you for inviting me. Who's going to come to the party?

Martha:Well, a number of people haven't told me yet. But, Peter and Mark are going to help out with the cooking!
Jane:Hey, I'll help, too!

Martha:Would you? That would be great!
Jane:I'll make lasagna!

Martha:That sounds delicious! I know my Italian cousins are going to be there. I'm sure they'll love it.
Jane:Italians? Maybe I'll bake a cake...

Martha:No, no. They're not like that. They'll love it.
Jane:Well, if you say so... Is there going be a theme for the party?

Martha:No, I don't think so. Just a chance to get together and have fun.
Jane:I'm sure it'll be lots of fun.

Martha:But I'm going to hire a clown!
Jane:A clown! You're kidding me.

Martha:No, no. As I child, I always wanted a clown. Now,
I'm going to have my clown at my own party.
Jane:I'm sure everyone will have a good laugh.

Martha:That's the plan!

Choose the correct answer

What do they think about the weather?

It's beautiful.

It's terrible.

It's snowing.

What does Martha have to share?

News that she's going to get married.

News that she's going to have a party.

News that she's going to have a baby.

What are Peter and Mark going to do?

They're going to cook lasagna.

They're going to help with the cooking.

They're going to come dressed as clowns.

What does Jane offer to do?

She says she'll help cook.

She says she'll come dressed as a clown.

She says she'll speak Italian with her cousins.

How does Jane react to the news about the Italian cousins?

She's happy they'll taste her lasagna.

She's afraid they won't understand English.

She's says she'll bake a cake instead of lasagna.

What special plan is there?

Martha's going to have a clown.

Martha's going to make an announcement.

Martha's going to have a themed party.

Why does Martha want a clown?

She wanted a clown as a child, so now she's going to have one.

She hates clowns.

Because the clown goes well with the theme of the party.

Does Martha know exactly how many people are going to come?

Yes, she does.

No, she doesn't.

How does Jane think people will react to the clown?

She thinks they'll hate it.

She thinks they'll love it.

She thinks they'll have a good laugh.

Is there a theme for the party?

Yes, there is.

No, there isn't.

(Answers) http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_party.htm

THE PAST TENSES

DON’T YOU REMEMBER HOW PAST TENSES WERE FORMED AND USED?

HERE YOU’VE GOT THE SOLUTION! HAVE A LOOK AT THOSE FILES HERE TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY!

Past Continuous.ppt
Present Perfect.ppt
Past Perfect.pdf
Past Simple.ppt

START YOUR ENGINES STEP BY STEP!

DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE? LET’S PUT THE PAST TENSES TOGETHER! ;)

Past Perfect vs Past Simple:

Exercise 1
Exercise 2

Past Simple vs Past Continuous:

Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4

Past Simple vs Present Perfect:

Exercise 1

Past Simple vs Present Perfect & Past Perfect:

Exercise 1

ARE YOU TIRED? LET’S DO SOMETHING NEW…

LISTEN TO THIS SONG =D

Now, look at the lyrics and see if you can identify Past Simple verbs ^^

Do you think you could make a sentence Affirmative, negative or interrogative) for each of them?

ARE YOU READY FOR AN AMUSING ACTIVITY?

Look at this funny DIGITAL STORY TELLING about Nativity:

DO YOU WANT TO CREATE YOUR OWN DIGITAL STORY TELLING?

SAY ‘Yes!’ It’s EASY!

You only have to:

• Download PStory program Download HERE
• Here you’ve got the tutorial in case you don’t know how to use it: Tutorial
• Look for some images on the Internet.
• Add the text to each image.
• Record your voice in order to tell the story.
• You’ve got it!
• You can send it to us so that we can see your story! =)
• Don’t forget to use the past tenses correctly!!! ;P

IF YOU ARE VERY HARD-WORKING, YOU CAN ALSO DO THESE EXERCISES:

Past Continuous Elementary level :

Past continuous activity, by vtakamatu
Find this and other past continuous exercises in English Exercises .org

Past Continuous Tense exercise, by Park
Find this and other past continuous exercises in English Exercises .org

Past Simple vs Past Continuous Intermediate level:

2 exercises Past Simple/Past continuous, by Irina
Find this and other past continuous exercises in English Exercises .org

Past simple and past continuous, by lovinglondon
Find this and other past continuous exercises in English Exercises .org

Present Perfect Elementary level:

present perfect interrogative, by isabel
Find this and other present perfect exercises in English Exercises .org

PRESENT PERFECT WITH ALREADY AND YET, by jecika
Find this and other present perfect exercises in English Exercises .org

Present Perfect vs Past Simple Intermediate:

PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE, by annaeo
Find this and other present perfect exercises in English Exercises .org

FOR THE BRAVEST!

DO YOU WANT TO GO FURTHER?

Do this exercise about all the verbal tenses (Present, Past and Future) mixed along with vocabulary at the same time you get immersed in PANDAS’ WORLD. Pandas: Cuddliest of all Bears, by Philip Roeland

Find this and other verb tenses exercises in English Exercises .org

EXTRA ACTIVITIES

IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE IN LISTENING ACTIVITIES, YOU CAN MAKE EXERCISES HERE:

LISTENINGS

DICTATIONS

THE PRESENT TENSES

Do you remember the difference between the Present Simple and the Present Continuous? Refresh your memory watching this funny video:

If that was not enough, you’ve got more information here ;)

Present Simple.ppt

Do you feel like listening to a song to get started? =P

Listen to the song I’m a number, from Robert Ramirez and put the lyrics in the correct order.

I'm a number

YOU, YOU’RE THE BOSS I COULD BE FIRED BUT I LEAD ALONE MY LIFE IT’S MY CRIME…THAT’S MY CRIME YOU, YOU SHOULD CHANGE YOUR UGLY TIE YOU COULD FALL AND COULD NOT RISE YOU’RE ALONE YOU’RE ALONE
NO NO NO I’M NOT A SUPERSTAR YEAH YEAH YEAH I’M JUST A NUMBER ONE LOOK AT YOU WITH YOUR STUPID SMILE NOW WE SHOUT WE’RE ALL A NUMBER ONE
I’M NOT A SINGER NOR A STAR IT’S MORE SIMPLE MY LOVE I’M A NUMBER
NO NO NO I’M NOT A SUPERSTAR YEAH YEAH YEAH I’M JUST A NUMBER ONE LOOK AT YOU WITH YOUR STUPID SMILE NOW WE SHOUT WE’RE ALL A NUMBER ONE
I’M NOT A PLANET NOR A CAR I DON’T PLAY WITH YOUR SOUL I’M A NUMBER
I’M NOT A CHILD NOR A SINNER I WON’T BE MEAN AND RUDE I’M A NUMBER
I DON’T FEEL I DON’T CRY I DON’T LOOK AFTER YOU I’M A NUMBER
I’M NOT A STORM NOR A LIGHT I DON’T HAVE ANY HOME I’M A NUMBER

WATCH THIS CLASSIC AMONG CLASSICS:

Here you have the lyrics of this Hollywood musical song. You can find the number of mistakes in red-coloured brackets. Become a grammar mistakes finder and write in a piece of paper the correct words:

I'm sing in the rain (1)

Just sing in the rain (1)

What a glorious feeling I happy again (1)

I laughing at clouds (1)

So dark up above

The sun in my heart (1)

And I'm ready for love

Let the stormy clouds chase

Everyone from the place

Come on with the rain

I a smile on my face (1)

I walk down the lane

With a happy refrain

Just singin', singin' in the rain

Danc in the rain (1)

I'm happy again

I'm and in the rain (2)

You can check if your answers are right looking at this:

Singing in the rain lyrics.doc

Hollywood musicals: A genre for dreamers

In the age of music videos, it’s difficult to appreciate the playful, charming, exuberant world of the Hollywood musical. More than any other genre in film history (save perhaps the western), it recalls a different age and different values, a different set of audience expectations, and a different culture of pop music and film. Between the 1930s and 1950s the music of Hollywood musicals was popular culture; its stars were the idols and dreamboats of audiences; its mannerisms were the art of the people. Today, musicals can look like so much fluff and silliness. If this is so, however, the loss is ours. As out of date as some musicals may seem, there is still something wonderful in the pure joy and spectacle of movies like The Wizard of Oz or Singin’ in the Rain.

Are you curious about what life was for teens in 1950's? Surfing the Internet, we have found this awesome Power Point !

Do you want to play a game and fling the teacher at the same time?

Here you have a very funny game. This will help you to practise the Present Continuous Tense. Have fun!

Fling the teacher game!

DESCRIBING YOUR CRUSH...

As you know, for descriptions, we use the Present Simple. Check this: Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars:

Here you have the KARAOKE version of this song. Enjoy singing in English!

WHY DON'T WE MAKE A REVISION OF THE PRESENT PERFECT?

DO YOU FANCY START WITH A GAME?

LET´S PLAY GOLF!

You have to make sentences by choosing one word from each column. Then press Swing. If the answer is correct, you win. The balls at the top indicate if your choice is okay or wrong. A red ball means your choice is wrong. Follow this link:

The Golf Game!

TIME FOR A SONG:

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

I've paid my dues -

Time after time -

I've done my sentence -

But committed no crime -

And bad mistakes -

I've made a few -

I've had my share of sand kicked in my face -

But I've come through -

We are the champions my friends -

And we'll keep on fighting till the end -

We are the champions -

No time for losers -

'Cause we are the champions of the world -

I've taken my bows -

And my curtain calls -

You brought me fame and fortuen and everything that goes with it -

I thank you all -

But it's been no bed of roses -

No pleasure cruise -

I consider it a challenge before the whole human race -

And I ain't gonna lose -

We are the champions my friends -

And we'll keep on fighting till the end -

We are the champions -

No time for losers -

'Cause we are the champions of the world -

In bold letters you can see some examples of Present Perfect in English. Remember how we make it, using have/has + past participle.

Do you remember English irregular verbs? You can complete an online chart with the correct forms of the irregular verbs and check your answers:

Press here to do it!

In case you need some more revision, you can complete these exercises ^^

Grammar review.doc