30 great opening lines in literature

Do you know how Don Quixote starts? Of course you do!! Here we have an interesting article from the newspaper The Daily Telegraph where they list what are (according to them) the 30 Best Opening Lines in Literature. Have a look and see how many books you know!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/9817505/30-great-opening-lines-in-literature.html

Reading Club Programme: revised

Here is the updated reading club programme for all INTERMEDIATE CLASSES for BOOK 2 AND 3.

PLEASE NOTE THE DATES FOR THE BOOK REVIEW (BOOK 2), WHICH YOU WILL WRITE IN CLASS IN GROUPS, AND THE BOOK PROJECT (BOOK 3) WHICH YOU WILL WORK ON INDEPENDENTLY OUTSIDE CLASS. (More details  later on exactly what this involves!)

R EADING PROGRAMME: INTERMEDIATE 1 and 2     

EOI GUIA 2012/13

  

PERIOD 2: BOOK 2

Session 1:        21/22 JANUARY

----------------------------            CARNIVAL: 11 - 15 FEBRUARY  ------------------------

Session :          18/19 FEBRUARY

Session 4:       4/5 MARCH: WRITING THE BOOK REVIEW IN GROUPS

PERIOD 3: BOOK 3

Session 1:        18/21 MARCH

------------------------------          EASTER 26 – 29 MARCH   -------------------------------------------

Session 2:        1/2 APRIL

Session 3:        15/16 APRIL

                                  

YOU WILL ALSO HAVE 8 HOURS OF INDEPENDENT  WORK IN YOUR OWN TIME OUTSIDE CLASS TO DO THE BOOK PROJECT (WHICH ANNIE WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU) RELATED TO BOOK 3,  TO COMPLETE THE EXTRA 8 HOURS THIS TERM.

SPECIAL SESSION 22/23 APRIL:  BOOK PROJECT PRESENTATIONS IN CLASS

CORRECTION TO READING TESTS: INT 1

Hi everyone

We have just noticed that there is a mistake in the answer key to the Reading test I sent you: 7.1 LAWS:

1.E
2. H
3. I
4. C
5. ---- (nothing there)
6. G
7 B
8. J
9. K

Thanks to Sergio for spotting this!!

Reading Club Project - extra 8 hours.

 

Hi everyone, I know you´re all super duper busy with the exams at the moment, but I just wanted to draw to your attention - just in case you didn´t see the information on the EOI Guía website- that the academic year finishes on 29 May this year, not mid June as was originally announced.


"La Consejería de Educación del Gobierno de Canarias ha publicado hoy una resolución que modifica el calendario de finalización de las actividades lectivas para el curso 2012-13. Según el nuevo calendario, la actividad lectiva finalizará el día 29 de mayo de 2013, lo que permitirá que se desarrollen las Pruebas de Certificación durante el mes de junio.
La nueva modificación supone la pérdida de 8 horas de clase por grupo y para suplirlas la Consejería ha dictado unas directirices para que los alumnos recuperen este tiempo en forma de trabajo autónomo. Tras la vuelta de las vacaciones informaremos a nuestros alumnos de cómo se recuperarán estas horas".

What does this mean?

It means that each student should dedicate an extra 8 HOURS OUTSIDE OF CLASS TO AN ENGLISH RELATED ACTIVITY.In the English department we have discussed how best to use these hours creatively, and in Intermediate 1 and 2 I have decided we will work on a PROJECT RELATED TO OUR READING CLUB.  This project will be related to the THIRD BOOK you will study. We will therefore do the project in March/April.

After Carnival, I will give you the details of the Projects, which I am sure you will enjoy and have fun doing!!


.

Happy Birthday to Pride and Prejudice!!

Pride and Prejudice, the most famous book by one of the greatest of all English novelists, Jane Austen, and which maybe you have seen as a film version, is 200 years old this week! An occasion to celebrate!

I have a copy of the Reader PLUS the video of the latest film version with Keira Knightley, if any student would like to borrow either of them. A great way to get to know this poersiod of history and English literature!

Burns Night again

Don´t forget that tomorrow is Burns Night, when Scots over the world celebrate the life and work of our National Poet.

Here is a picture of Burns Cottage in Ayrshire, the humble home of Burns as a child.


Here is a very good reading of Burns´ famous poem, My Love is Like a Red Red Rose. This is also a great love poem to learn and read to you partner this coming Valentine´s day!!

http://www.robertburns.plus.com/voicemyluv.htm

Book of the Month

 
This month I´ve been reading The Winter of the World, the second book in the Trilogy by Ken Follet. It´s about events around the time of the Second World War and Spanish Civil War, which follow the main characters and their children from book 1: Fall of Giants, Germans, Welsh, English and Russian.

It´s fairly interesting (and incredibly long- luckily I have it on my Kindle so it isn´t too heavy!!) but I am a bit disapppointed- I don´t think the writing is as good as his earlier books, Pillars of the Earth, etc. Also, because the first part was published a couple of years ago, I had already forgotten who the main characters and families were! So if you read the book, I´d recommend you read first the Fall of Giants, then The Winter of the World!

EXTRA TUTORIAL THU 20.00

 

I WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION TOMORROW THURSDAY FROM   20.00 - 21.00 APPROX. IF ANY STUDENT WANTS TO SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THEIR PROGRESS OR WRITING. 

PLEASE SEND A REPLY TO THIS POST IF YOU WANT TO COME, THANKS!!

Intermediate 1 extra reading tests: answers

Hi everyone

Here are the answers to the two extra reading tests you have (or will have when you pick them up from the School).

1. Crime:

1  C
2  E
3  D
4  A
5  F

2. Laws

1  E
2  H
3  I
4  C
5  G
6  B
7  J
8  K

Intermediate 1A Mon / Wed group

Hu guys, I have some extra reading material for you which you can use to practice the type of test formats you may get in the exam. I will leave the material with Fátima in the office this afternoon (Wednesday).

Great film, in English!

I really recommend you try to see LOS MISERABLES if you can. It´s a musical, and sung in English. The plot is set in 19th century France and is based on the Victor Hugo novel. The characters are very well acted and the singing is wonderful.

Here is a link to the film and you can read more!

 http://lesmiserables-movie.co.uk/#http%3A//lesmiserables-movie.co.uk?section=story&_suid=1358854639897000745674399666435

Extra listening: A cup of English (not tea!)

Just to remind you, in case you didn´t see that blog post, that there is very nice listening material on the attached blog. It´s done by an English woman living in the USA, who records herself, and there is a transcript with exercises.

http://acupofenglish.libsyn.com/


Don´t miss it!!

INTERMEDIATE 2: Answers to the two reading tests for homework

Hi everyone, here are the answers to the two optional reading tests I gave out (or will give to the Tuesday/Thursday group tonight).

1. Robots:

1   T
2   T
3   T
4   F
5   T
6   F
7   T
8   T
9    F
10  T

2. Old Age:

1  c
2  a
3  b
4  c
5  a


Hope you did well!!

EXAMS!!

Don´t forget, everyone, that we start ORAL EXAMS this week, on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24.

Next week, on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29  we have the READING AND LISTENING EXAMS for all classes.

On Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 , we have the WRITING EXAM  for all classes.

The week beginning 4 February, we have ORAL EXAMS on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

IMPORTANT: 
CARNIVAL HOLIDAY WEEK FROM 11 - 15 FEBRUARY

CLASSES START AGAIN ON MONDAY 18/ TUESDAY 19 FEBRUARY!

Reading club dates: Intermediate 1 and 2

Here are the dates for our SECOND BOOK:

Monday/Wednesday classes: 21 January, 18 February, 4 March

Tuesday/Thursday classes: 22 January, 19 February, 5 March.

Please note that there are only 3 sessions, so you need to read all the book before 4/5 March!

Our final task this time will be writing a BOOK REVIEW in groups ON THE FINAL DAY .

Another good reading

Here is another good reading- this time about body image! Who is more concerned, men or women? You may be surprised!!

 http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/news-lessons/monthly-topical-news-lessons/pdf-content/body-image-concerns-more-men-than-women-intermediate/551906.article

Interesting Reading

Here´s an interesting reading: do animals experience a mid life crisis the same as humans?!!

http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/news-lessons/monthly-topical-news-lessons/pdf-content/chimps-and-orangutans-may-experience-midlife-crises-intermediate/552499.article

Intermediate 2 Grammar ex. 3rd Conditional

Hi everyone

Here´s an exercise to practise the third conditional.
http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/intplus/a_grammar/file03/nef_int_grammar_3_02?cc=global&selLanguage=en

Intermediate 1 Grammar ex. U3A

Hi everyone

Here is a grammar exercise to practice the modal verbs we studied this week.

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/intermediate/a_grammar/file03/nef_int_grammar03_a01?cc=global&selLanguage=en

Burns Night

Hi everyone

In Scotland on January 25 we celebrate birthday of our national poet, Robert (Rabbie) Burns, who lived in the 18th century. All round the country, and in countries where there are many people of Scottish origin (eg. Canada, New Zealand, Australia, USA etc), there are Burns Suppers, a special dinner with Scottish music and dancing, and Burns poetry.

Take a look at this website for more interesting information.
 http://www.scotland.org/celebrate-scotland/burns-night

READING CLUB

CHANGE TO THE DATES FOR THE NEXT READING CLUB:

 

 

Monday / Wednesday classes: 21 January
Tuesday/Thursday classes: 22 January.

This time, we will have 3 sessions on the new book.

Please read the next story, or stories (depending on your book) and prepare the questions in the book for these dates.

ENJOY!!

Homework - Intermediate 2 class on MONDAY

Hi everyone, I hope you got the message from Nauzet! The homework for Monday is page 36 of the student´s book, ex. 3 Grammar- do a, b and c. You need to check p 134 Grammar bank, too. We´ll go over the grammar in class.

Happy New Year!

A Very Happy New Year to all my students. May the New Year bring you all you wish.. and more!

 

 

 



A nice photo from Glasgow of people skating in George Square, in the City centre- it isn´t snow! Just an ice rink!