Good morning,

here I provide a link to practice listening.

See you in the classroom.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/multimedia/london/unit1/listen1.shtml

Links to PET Writing Part 1 interactive exercises.

Hello everyone,

as I know that most of you have or might have some problems with the first part of the writing (rephrasing a sentence using no more than three words), here you are some links to interactive exercises for you to practice. Many of them have been taken from tests books, so they will be familiar to you:

http://www.learnclick.com/cloze/show/769

http://www.learnclick.com/cloze/show/771

http://www.learnclick.com/cloze/show/774

http://www.learnclick.com/cloze/show/775

On the links that follow, a PDF file will be opened. These are printable exercises that you can do and bring to the class:

http://timjulian.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/pet-writing-part-1-1.pdf

http://timjulian.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/help-with-pet-21.pdf

A quizlet:

http://quizlet.com/5717337/pet-writing-part-1-1-flash-cards/

WEBQUEST

The Origin of Cinema

1. Introduction

Hello everyone. Here is the task you have to do. As I already explained in class, a webquest is a guided research in which I am giving you the resources to find out the information. The topic I have chosen is the origin of cinema and its evolution,

I guess that everyone, or almost everyone, likes films, and taking into account that cinema is over 100 years, I have considered this topic of eveyone's interest.

In the next section you have the task you'll have to present. In the resources section you will find all the sites you can use to develop your task acording to the guideline you have in point 3.

I hope you like it and enjoy it, even if it's a project ;D 

2. Task

The project you will have to do will be presented in class orally, that is. you don't have to hand it in.

You will research to find out the information you are asked in each question. For that, you will be given a series of websites where you can find, contrast and use the information to develop your presentation.

The final project has to be well organised  and structured. The length is up to you, you can do it as long as you want providing that you have included the correct information.

Needless to say, any questions you may have about this, you can ask me via this blog.

3. Process

1. The origin of cinema  

Explain the origin of cinema, the year in which it was invented, who invented it and when the first film was projected.


 2. From the silent era to the first sound films.

Find out about the most important silent films and their filmmakers. Then, check out some sites to research on the first sound film(s).


3. Black and white films vs. Colour films. One step further.

• Were all the films in colour?

• Which and when was the first colour film released or projected?

4. Special effects. A revolution. 

• What does a special effect consist of?

• Which films have been the most revolutionary in terms of special effects?

 5.  The evolution of film genres.

• What was/were the most popular film genre/s in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's 2000's and 2010's

6. My favourite film, its genre and why I like it.

As a conclusion to your project you will have to write about your favourite film. Write about the year it was released, the plot, whether it's in colour, its special effects, etc.


4. Resources

Here you are the links to the information. You can find links to both text and video:

• Links to the origins infomation: 

http://www.precinemahistory.net/introduction.htm 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CDyjMouQyc 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_film (this link provides you information about origins and history as well as information about the silent era)

• Links on the silent era:

http://www.silentera.com/info/top100.html 

http://www.cinemacom.com/top-silent-films.html 

http://benbeck.co.uk/firsts/talkies1.htm 

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_the_first_movie_with_sound 

An example of the silent era filmmaking 'A trip to the Moon' by George Meliés:

•  Link to Wikipedia about the first colour films:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_early_color_feature_films 

• Links about special effects:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/special+effects 

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2055255,00.html  (Click on Enter to read the information)

 http://blogcritics.org/video/article/top-ten-revolutionary-effects-movies-of/

http://www.filmsite.org/visualeffects4.html 

A very interesting video, '100 years of visual effects in 5 minutes'

• Links about film genres:

http://www.filmsite.org/filmh.html 

http://www.filmsite.org/boxoffice2.html#sixties 


5. Conclusion

Currently, cinema is considered the seventh art. From time to time, we watch some film to get amused without accounting the genre. Some like action films, some like author films, some see cinema as a spectacle full of special effects, some other prefer watching films because filmmakers use it as way to express themselves, but what it is certain for everyone is that watching films is an undeniable pleasure.

I really hope that this topic will be engaging for you as it is for me.


  

This presentation is for those who still have problems with the spelling rules of the plurals.

Spelling rules for the plurals

Relative clauses

Conditional sentences

The passive voice

Modals

Future: ways of expressing future

Past perfect

Present perfect

Powerpoint presentation on grammar:

Past simple vs. Past continuous

Hello everyone,

last week I provided you some links to the BBC webpage which deals with pronunciation, that is, sounds and their representations.

Here you are another link from the same page in which you can download three programmes about some aspects of the English sounds pronunciation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/progs/prog1.shtml

Take a look at this video. It may be interesting for you. You have a teacher explaining the difference between some words that are difficult for you because they contain similar sounds - 4 common mistakes, to be more specific. To make a distinction when you speak, you should be acquainted with these differences.

Now you can click on the link below to do the listening. It consists of a customer in a shop who is making a request. Listen to it and choose the right answer in each question.

http://esl.about.com/library/listening/bllis_customer1.htm

I hope you find everything useful and amusing,
see you in the classroom.

Ok, here you are the first Powerpoint presentation on grammar, Present simple vs. Present continuous. Click on the link, write down the password and you'll see it.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5CBpqUCDoxhSF8yZm5JbzRaU3M/edit?usp=sharing

Once you check that the link works, I will attach the rest of the presentations. Thank you all for your patience.

Hope you'll find it useful.

Hello everyone,

This entry is about pronuncation. As I know how difficult pronouncing English sounds may be for you, I provide you some material about pronunciation.

The first thing I'd like you to do is watch this introduction video, it might be a bit boring for you but it is very useful:

One link to a chart containing all the English sounds, both vowels and consonants as well as the diphthongs. You can click on any of these sounds and you will listen to their pronuncation. Pay special attention to the vowels, especially those which are very similar and difficult for Spanish speakers. The chart will open in a pop-up window:

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/sounds/chart.shtml

Some more pages about pronunciation but these ones are focused on the differences between vocalic sounds. Here you have five units, they are very easy to follow. Do the first unit and go on with the other four:

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/unit1/start.shtml

In the following link you will find 4 sections: "Spelling and sounds", "Schwa", "Connected speech" and "Voicing". Click on them in the same order as I have just told you. As you will see, you will be able to do some interactive exercises:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/features/spelling/