Wednesday 27 November 2013

Monday 25 November 2013

VIOLENCE (intermediate / advanced adults)


  • What is violence?
  • How many kinds of violence are there?
  • Does one need a gun to act violently?
  • What are the effects of violence?
  • Where are the roots of violence?: are people born violent, or do we learn violence?
  • Have you ever been involved in a violent act? 
  • What do you consider the worst act of violence?
  • Has the world become more or less violent throughout history?

Watch these videos and give your impressions:




Here is the second one, recorded at a school in Iowa (U.S.A.) in 1968.
 An interesting experiment on power:




There is sarcasm in this one (do you consider sarcasm violence?), but it carries an interesting thought:
why does the victim so often feel guilty?



Do you think we live in a violent society?



Shall we create a list of acts of violence? Let me think...

  1. Lying
  2. Intimidation
  3. Neglect
  4. Rudeness
  5. ...
  6. ...
  7. ...


Which would you add?



Sunday 24 November 2013

NUMBERS (intermediate)

It may seem complicated, but it's really easy to say big numbers in English. Take a look!

Let's start at the beginning: one, two...




Listen and pay attention to the details.



You'll find all the rules and information in this worksheet.
CLICK ON IT TO DOWNLOAD IT.


Now, you can even count the stars!




Monday 18 November 2013

THANKSGIVING (intermediate)

Let's begin by learning some words related to this special holiday, as well as customs and traditions around it.

  [Infographic provided by Grammar.net]



Click on the turkey to visit the original site of the poster and learn about the new words and phrases:



But...
where and when did it all start?




Listen to Plymouth Rock's version of the facts:





Let's sing a song to celebrate!




Thanksgiving and Black Friday come hand in hand. Everyone knows about Thanksgiving, do you know the meaning of Black Friday?

Click below to learn about it.

 


Let's see how much you know about Thanksgiving now! Click on the cornucopia to start a quiz:



Create your own Thanksgiving wordsearch puzzle!


 


Don't you feel a little sorry for the big birds?...







Let's head for Christmas now!




Wednesday 13 November 2013

HOME SWEET HOME (elementary)

What rooms of the house can you name? What are they used for? How could you furnish them?
Take a look at this worksheet and find out.

(Click on it to download it)



Try this activity, it will help you.
(Click on the picture to see it.)




How good are you at decorating homes? Let's see, try this game!

 



Tuesday 12 November 2013

PRESENT SIMPLE & CONTINUOUS (intermediate)

Watch this video by Hamilton House and pay attention to the differences between the two forms of the Present tense used:



Read these parts of the script and answer the following question:

  What differences are there among the coloured forms of the verbs? Why are they used differently?

  • Why are you wearing a tie? You never wear ties.
  • I hate ties, but I'm wearing this tie because it's a present from my cousin George.
------------

  • What are you cooking?
  • I'm cooking vegetables.
  • Vegetables? But you hate vegetables! You always eat meat.
  • Yes, but cousin George is a vegetarian. He doesn't eat meat.

------------

  • What are you doing?
  • I'm putting away my things. There's always a disaster when George comes.
------------

  • I'm staying for a week!

Need more information?
Here is a worksheet with all the details.






Monday 11 November 2013

INTERACTIVE PHONETIC CHART OF ENGLISH SOUNDS

Listen to the sounds of English on this video by The English Language Club.
Just click on the sound you want to hear.


Can you find at least one word for each sound?


Saturday 9 November 2013

Thursday 7 November 2013

PRESENT CONTINUOUS (elementary worksheet, activities and videos)

Do you REALLY think that using the Present Continuous tense is complicated? I bet you'll change your mind after a little bit of practice.

Here is Mr Bean to help you start.




Download this worksheet if you think you need some extra practice:




(Or click here if you have an account in http://www.4shared.com).


It's your turn now!
Watch this video ant tell: What is the Pink Panther doing?



Imagine now:

Your best friend has to stay in bed because she has a broken leg. You are keeping her company. After a while you decide to take a look outside the window. Something strange is happening on the street. You tell your friend every single detail.

What is going on?

Some possible ideas:
  • a thief grabs a woman's handbag and runs away
  • your boyfriend meets a girl and is very affectionate towards her
  • there is a car accident 
  • describe the passers-by


And a song for you:




Wednesday 6 November 2013

FOOD & DRINKS slides (all levels)

How much of the food shown can you name?

Write a list of food categories (vegetables, meat, desserts, etc.) and write at least five of the articles you can see in the slides in each category. Can you think of more words for each list?

After that, tell the difference between fast food and slow food. Name ten foods in each of these categories.




Could you mention the country of origin of some of the dishes that you have seen?
Which other dishes from different countries do you know?
Which dish is traditional in your country? Do you know the main ingredients?


Sunday 3 November 2013

GUY FAWKES NIGHT (higher intermediate - advanced)

Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The gunpowder treason and plot ;
I know of no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot
.
(Traditional poem)


What is remembered on this date: November 5th?
How much do you know about Bonfire Night?
How could the course of history have changed?
Why did it not change?


Learn all the historic facts on this site by the BBC. Click on the image to start:



Watch this animated video for additional information:

  


Now that you know all the facts, do you think you can spoil Guy Fawkes' plan?
Go ahead and try! This game will help you remember all the facts you have learnt.
Just click on the image and start!



One more question for you:
What does this familiar mask have to do with Guy Fawkes? Who uses it?






Saturday 2 November 2013

Films & TV Programmes (intermediate)

How many types of films and TV programmes can you name?





Make a list with the different types and add a new film or programme to each category.






Friday 1 November 2013

ENGLISH SOUNDS, STRESS and INTONATION (intermediate activities)

Visit this incredible site created by Cambridge University Press and go through all the options. You can practise word and sentence stress, intonation and listen to the pronunciation of the English sounds.

You'll love it!
Click on the red button to get started: