viernes, 24 de agosto de 2012

miércoles, 1 de agosto de 2012

Preparing for exam

THEORY THERE IS / THERE ARE

AFFIRMATIVE
There is a chair in the bedroom.Hay una silla en el dormitorio.

There are two chairs in the bedroom.Hay dos sillas en el dormitorio.

NEGATIVE
There isn't a chair in the bedroom.No hay una silla en el dormitorio.

There aren't two chairs in the bedroom.No hay dos sillas en el dormitorio.

QUESTION
Is there a chair in the bedroom?¿Hay una silla en el dormitorio?

Are there two chairs in the bedroom?¿Hay dos sillas en el dormitorio?

EXERCISE!



COMPOSITION

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

EXAMPLE: PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Public transport is today a big option of travelling, however it has a lot of disadvantages. Public transport has many advantages, for example it is cheap, because you do not have to pay the fuel. Another advantage is that public transpor pollutes less than a private car. On the other hand, disadvantages are, for example, you depend on a timetable. Futhermore, buses are very slow and you may arrive late. In my opinion, public transport has got more disadvantages than advantages but it might be cheaper.

Introduction: Public transport is today a big option of travelling, however it has a lot of disadvantages. Advantages: Public transport has many advantages, for example it is cheap, because you do not have to pay the fuel. Disadvantages: On the other hand, disadvantages are, for example, you depend on a timetable. Furthermore, buses are very slow and you may arrive late. Opinion/conclusion: In my opinion, public transport has got more disadvantages than advantages but it might be cheaper.



LISTENING


This test examines your listening comprehension. There are three parts to the test. Each part has its own directions.
PART A: DIRECTIONS
In Part A, you will hear 20 statements. The statements will not be repeated, and will not be written down for you.
Choose the statement that is closest in meaning to what you have heard. Write your answer on the answer sheet.

1.

  1. My new bed is very expensive
  2. My new bed is very fashionable
  3. My new bed is an antique
  4. My new bed is very comfortable

2.

  1. Gibbons is the oldest
  2. Gibbons has the highest rank
  3. Gibbons is the tallest
  4. Gibbons is second in command

3.

  1. The doctor is a neighbour
  2. The doctor is very pleasant
  3. The doctor is very good
  4. The doctor is very strong

4.

  1. The soldiers are talking
  2. The soldiers are marching
  3. The soldiers aren't standing
  4. The soldiers aren't moving

5.

  1. I love that book
  2. I hate that book
  3. I want to read that book
  4. I don't want a book

6.

  1. You might do that
  2. You mustn't do that
  3. You could do that
  4. You would not do that

7.

  1. Summer is the last
  2. Summer is hot
  3. Summer has ended
  4. Summer has begun

8.

  1. You have to continue the order
  2. You have to obey orders
  3. You have to send the order
  4. You have to reorder the following

9.

  1. Yesterday I was fishing before lunch
  2. I ate fish for my lunch yesterday
  3. Yesterday I had lunch while fishing
  4. I had meat for lunch yesterday

10.

  1. Summer is coming
  2. Winter is coming
  3. The weather is hot
  4. The weather is nice

11.

  1. Like a child I believe in Santa Claus
  2. My child believes in Santa Claus
  3. I used to believe in Santa Claus
  4. I would like to believe in Santa Claus

12.

  1. I work with my dog twice a day
  2. I feed my dog two times a day
  3. I exercise my two dogs daily
  4. I take my dog out two times a day

13.

  1. There are four letters for you
  2. I wrote you a letter yesterday
  3. The letter was written by you
  4. This letter has your name on it

14.

  1. Cars are damaging the city
  2. Cars are demanded in our city
  3. Cars are driven in our cities
  4. Cars are dominating the cities

15.

  1. Ana is still reading the book
  2. Ana isn't reading at the moment
  3. Ana has just finished reading
  4. Ana has read a good book recently

16..

  1. I have a light lunch during the week
  2. I like a sandwich on the weekends
  3. I like making most sandwiches
  4. I like to have four sandwiches

17.

  1. The boy was resuscitated by the medics
  2. The boy saved a lot of money
  3. The doctors found the boy
  4. The doctors could not help the boy

18.

  1. In Frankfort there are more people than in Madrid
  2. In Frankfort there are more people than bicycles
  3. In Madrid there are fewer people than in Frankfort
  4. In Madrid fewer people use bicycles than in Frankfort

19.

  1. I didn't know you were ill
  2. If you were ill, I'd phone you
  3. If you are ill, call me
  4. If I had an illness, I'd call you

20.

  1. Before, I used to go cycling on Saturdays
  2. On Saturdays I go for a cycle
  3. I never eat before lunch on Saturdays
  4. I always recycle on Saturdays

READING 


Marrying in Shanghai now costs the average Chinese worker eight years of salary. DVD players and cars have replaced radios and bicycles as essential gifts for newlyweds who are setting up their first home, a state newspaper said on Tuesday. The China Daily said the average cost of getting married in Shanghai was 150,000 yuan ($18,000) which is double the amount 5 years ago. The average city worker earns 1,530 yuan ($184) a month.
Twenty-first century marriage essentials now include a banquet for several hundred guests, studio wedding photos, a honeymoon, household appliances and an apartment. This is a big change from the 1970s when a couple received a bicycle, a radio and some furniture. Their marriage was rubber-stamped at a local government office. But the traditional Chinese wedding gift is still money which is put into red envelopes.

6.According to the text, Chinese workers-

  1. Are paying less for their own weddings nowadays
  2. Are getting married now more than before
  3. Need to pay many years’ wages to pay for weddings
  4. Give their own bikes and radios as wedding gifts

7.In China, bicycles and radios are-

  1. The only permitted gift at Chinese weddings
  2. Considered taboo as gifts at Chinese weddings
  3. No longer the most given gifts at Chinese weddings
  4. Are still the most common gift at Chinese weddings

8.The price of a wedding in Shanghai now costs-

  1. Twice as much as some years ago
  2. Half as much as five years ago
  3. The same as five years ago
  4. Nowhere near as much as five years ago

9.The expressionseveral hundred guests is similar in meaning to-

  1. One hundred guests
  2. Less than a hundred guests
  3. Many hundreds of guests
  4. Just over a thousand guests

10.Money is considered to be-

  1. A relatively new gift at Chinese weddings
  2. A common gift given the Chinese economic boom
  3. Less habitual as a gift than radios and push-bikes
  4. The time-honoured Chinese wedding gift


jueves, 26 de julio de 2012

PREPOSITIONS AND COMPOSITIONS AND TRANSLATIONS

PREPOSITION TESTS

PREPOSITIONS OF TIME AND DATE

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep3.htm


PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep1.htm


PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE AND MOVEMENT

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep2.htm


PREPOSITIONS FOR / WHILE / DURING

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep4.htm


NOUN PREPOSITIONS FOR / IN / OF / TO / WITH / BETWEEN

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep5.htm



PREOPOSITION NOUNS FOR / IN / BY / ON


http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep6.htm


ADJECTIVE PREPOSITIONS ABOUT / AT / BY / FOR / FROM

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep7.htm


ADJECTIVE PREPOSITIONS ABOUT / OF / ON / TO / WITH

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep8.htm



COMPOSITIONS

Describing an object

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
-determiner or article
-opinion
-size (height, width, lenght, volume)
-shape
-age
-colour
-nationality
-religion
-material
-noun used as an adjective
-NOUN

adjective order --> http://www2.elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/exercises/adjectiveorder.htm

TENSE!!
-Present (or Past Perfect if it has expired)

You can describe SOUNDS, SMELLS, TEXTURES, etc. about the object

You can mention the activities you do with the object



EXAMPLE



CHINA CROCKERY


The china crockery here includes a large plate in which one may serve
snacks. The plate is curved up slightly at the rim. It has a golden border,
and a number of circles are painted at some distance from the rim. At the
centre is a picture of a red rose with buds and green leaves all around it.
The tea-pot has a narrow bottom, but curves outward towards the centre.
It has a spout and a handle like a triangle. There are designs in bas-relief
along the borders of the lid and the pot. The milk-pot has a concave shape
with a gently curved lip. There is also a convex bowl for sugar and a tea-
cup in a saucer. All of them have the same floral design. The background
colour of the set is light pink.



The description above gives these details:

plate

large (size)
for serving snacks (use)
curved up slightly at the rim (shape)
golden border (colour)
circles (design)
pictures of a red rose with buds and green leaves (design)


tea-pot

narrow bottom (shape)
curves outward towards the centre (shape)
handle like a triangle (shape)
designs in bas-relief along the borders (design)


milk-pot

concave (shape)
gently curved lip (shape)
for milk (use)


bowl

convex (shape)
for sugar (use)


All the objects
light pink background (colour)
floral design




TRANSLATION

La vajilla de porcelana aquí incluye un plato grande en el que uno puede servir
aperitivos. El plato está curvada ligeramente hacia arriba en el borde. Tiene el borde de oro,
y unos círculos están pintados a cierta distancia del borde. En
el centro hay un dibujo de una rosa roja con capullos y hojas verdes a su alrededor.
La tetera tiene el fondo estrecho, pero se curva hacia afuera en el centro.
Tiene un tubo de salida (pitorro) y un asa como un triángulo. Hay diseños en bajo relieve
por los bordes de la tapa y la taza. La taza de la leche tiene una forma cóncava
con un extremo curvado suavemente. También hay un cuenco convexo para el azúcar y una taza de té en un platillo. Todos ellos tienen el mismo diseño floral. El color del fondo del conjunto es de color rosa claro.

miércoles, 11 de julio de 2012

REPHRAISING




Este material no es mío. Está sacado del documento .pdf que se puede encontrar en: 


http://www.brays-ingles.com/support-files/ebookpetwriting.pdf


PET Writing
How to pass the Cambridge 
PET Writing Section


1. Do you play basketball well?
Are you a …………………… player?
2. Does art interest you?
Are you ………………… art?
3. What is your age?
How ………….. you?
4. Which is your favourite school subject?
Which school subject ………….. like best?
5. How is that spelt?
How do …………….. that?
6. Each lesson lasts forty minutes.
Each lesson …………….. long.
7. What‟s the price of this book, please?
How ………   this book, cost, please?
8. I think Spain is a wonderful country.
Spain is a wonderful country ……… opinion.
9. I think you are right about the weather.
I agree …………. about the weather.
10. I think mobile phones are very useful.
Mobile phones are very useful ……….. opinion.
11. We‟ll talk about the price first.
How ………………… about the price first?
12. Bill is too weak to carry the box.
Bill isn‟t …………. to carry the box.
13. In our school only a few students have blonde hair.
In our school, not ………………….. curly hair.
14. My sister prefers milk chocolate to dark chocolate.
My sister likes milk chocolate ………… dark chocolate.
15. In our house, dinner is usually prepared by my father.
In our house, my father …………………. dinner.
16. My father said, „Come home at 10.‟
My father told ………home at 10.
17. Susan asked for paella in the restaurant.
In the restaurant, Susan said, „Can ………… paella, please?‟
18. Mary suggested that we order a pizza.
Mary said, „Let‟s ………………… a pizza.‟
19. Britain is a small island, so everywhere is near to the sea.
Britain is a small island, so nowhere is ………………. the sea.
20. Never go for a long run without taking water with you.
Take water with you, if you‟re ……………… a long run.
21. Look at a map of Africa if you want to find Zimbabwe.
You won‟t find Zimbabwe unless ……………………… a map of Africa.
22. I became a policeman five years ago.
I …………. a  policeman for five years.
23. I came to Spain in 2005.
I …………….. in Spain since 2005.
24. My mother asked me if I wanted an ice-cream.
My mother said, „Would …………. an ice-cream?‟
25. Yesterday a photographer took my photo.
Yesterday my photo ………..…….. a photographer.
26. My book is heavier than my brothers.
My bother‟s book isn‟t …………..… mine.
27. At first, you‟ll have difficulty understanding the rules.
At first, understanding the rules will be ……………. for you.
26. My book is heavier than my brothers.
My bother‟s book isn‟t …………..… mine.
27. At first, you‟ll have difficulty understanding the rules.
At first, understanding the rules will be ……………. for you.
28. I have to find accommodation before I look for a job.
I can‟t look for a job ………………. accommodation.
29. I‟ve promised to write home and so as my sister.
My sister and I ……………………… to write home.
30. Last night I took a tablet to stop my tooth aching.
Last night I took a tablet, because …………….. aching.
31. My sister does exercise because she must keep fit to play in the basketball team.
My sister does exercise to ……………… play in the basketball team.
32. If you don‟t stop drinking coffee in the evening, you‟ll never sleep well.
You‟ll never sleep well unless …………… coffee in the evening.
33. People with influenza should stay in bed for a couple of days.
Stay in bed for a couple of days if you ……….. influenza.
34. Smoking isn‟t allowed in pubs in England.
You …………….. in pubs in England.
35. The earliest clocks used the sun‟s shadow to tell the time.
With the earliest clocks, people ………………… the time by using the sun‟s shadow.
36. Modern clocks are more accurate than old fashioned ones were.
Old fashioned clocks weren‟t as …………………… modern ones are.
37. The most famous clocks in the world are made in Switzerland.
In Switzerland, they …………………… the most famous clocks in the world.

38. An alarm clock helps you to wake up early.
An alarm clock is helpful ………………. you need to wake up early.
39. People without watches are often late for appointments.
People without watches are often not ………………….. for appointments.
40. My uncle prefers travelling by car to travelling by plane.
My uncle thinks travelling by car is better ………………….  plane
41. My dad is confused by internet.
Internet …………. my dad.
42. Whose are these glasses?
Who do these glasses ……………… to?
43. When I read for too long, I find it tiring.
I get ……….. when I read for too long.
44. Why don‟t you phone Sam up?
If I were you, ………….. phone Sam up.
45. My father said, “Don‟t burn the toast!”
My father told …………….. burn the toast.
46. Bread is more expensive than last year.
Last year, bread ………….. than it is now.
47. The school phone is often engaged.
It is often …………… phone the school.

48. Susan said, “Why don‟t you go to the shop?”
Susan said, “How …………………… to the shop?”
49. Many shops accept credit cards.
In many shops you …………….. credit card.
50. You can‟t smoke in pubs in England.
Smoking …………………. in pubs in England.
51. My brother has borrowed my bike.
I ……… my brother my bike.
52. He hasn‟t seen a play by Shakespeare before.
This is ……………….. play by Shakespeare he has seen.
53. This play is longer than Shakespeare‟s other plays.
Shakespeare‟s other plays are not …………… this one.
54. How much does the meal cost?
What is ………………. the meal?
55. I hope my brother returns the bike to me soon.
I hope my brother …………………. back my bike soon.
56. Last year wasn‟t as warm as this year.
This year is ……………..…. last year was.

57. How much is it to go scuba diving?
What ………………… to go scuba diving.
58. Do you know who this pen belongs to?
Do you know ………….. pen this is?
59. Sam can swim well.
Sam is …………………. swimming.
60. Running in boots isn‟t easy.
Heavy boots make it ………………. run.
61. A ticket for the football match costs 30 euros.
The cost of a ticket for the match ………… 30 euros.
62. Entrance for league matches is more expensive than for cup matches.
Entrance for cup matches ……………….……… than for league matches.
63. You don‟t have to pay to watch the second team.
You can watch the second team ……………… paying.
64. There are no foreigners in the team now.
The team doesn‟t ………………………. any more.
65. The new bar has been open for a week.
The new bar ……………….. last week.
66. The criminal escaped in a car.
The criminal made …………………. in a car.

67. The teacher said she wouldn‟t punish him this time.
The teacher said she would let …………..…. this time.
68. I didn‟t know it was illegal to smoke in the restaurant..
I didn‟t know it was against ……………. to smoke in a restaurant.
69. Not many people in England speak Chinese.
Not a ………………….. people in England speak Chinese.
70. The bomb exploded late last night.
The bomb went ………… late last night.
71. There weren‟t many people watching the film.
There were only ………. people watching the film.
72. I didn‟t recognize him until he removed his sunglasses.
I didn‟t recognize him until he ………. off his sunglasses.
73. Make sure you have everything before you leave the plane.
Make sure you have everything before you …………. off the plane.
74. Why didn‟t you go to school today.
You should ………….. to school today.
75. It‟s possible that John remembered to turn off the lights.
John might ………………………… to turn off the lights.

76. There was a chance we‟d win the competition, but we didn‟t.
We could ………………….. the competition, but we didn‟t.
77. I didn‟t invite Sarah to the party, and now I regret it.
I ……………………. Sarah to the party.
78. I can‟t wait for Christmas.
I‟m really ………………….. Christmas.
79. I didn‟t see the film because my TV was broken.
I would ………………..  the film if my TV hadn‟t been broken.
80. We‟ve got too few people to make a team.
We haven‟t ……………… people to make a team.
81. I‟ll get fat if I carry on eating a lot.
I‟ll get fat ……………… stop eating a lot.
82. We‟ll have a barbecue this weekend, unless the weather‟s bad.
If the weather‟s bad this weekend, we…………… a barbecue.
83. Loud planes annoy many people.
Many people ……………….. loud planes.
84. They are going to build a new shopping centre here next year.
A new shopping centre is going ……………………here next year.
85. People send billions of emails every day.
Billions of emails ………….. every day.

86. “Can you come tomorrow, Sandra?”
Sandra was asked if she …………….. tomorrow.
87. “Do you have any questions, Bill?”
Bill was asked …………… any questions.
88. Where are you living at the moment?
Can you tell me where …………………. at the moment.
89. Why have you quit your job?
Could you explain …………….. quit your job.
90. What did you say to the headmaster.
I‟d like to know ……………… to the headmaster.
91. Robert apologised for being late.
Robert was ……………….. for being late.
92. I didn‟t like curry at all.
I never ……………….. like curry.
93. Who broke the window?
Who was responsible ………………… the window?
94. If you ask me, footballers get too much money.
In ……………….. footballers get too much money.

95. The programme wasn‟t interesting so I turned off the TV.
I wouldn‟t have turned off the TV if the programme ……………… interesting.
96. We went to class because it was an important lesson.
We wouldn‟t have gone to class if it …………………. an important lesson.
97. You are too young to have a girlfriend.
You are not ………………….. to have a girlfriend.
98. That man‟s dog chased me yesterday.
That‟s the man ……………. chased me yesterday.
99. Car fumes pollute our cities.
Our cities …………………. car fumes.
100. There was too much noise to hear the teacher.
There was ……………… noise that I couldn‟t hear the teacher.











http://www.brays-ingles.com/

improving Writing skills

WRITING
You complete tasks such as: 
 writing notes or a short message of between 35 and 45 words
 writing a story or letter of up to 100 words
 completing exercises involving changing the meaning of sentences


1. COMPARISONS

 ………. more often than ………
 ………. less often than ……….
 ………. as often as …………
 ………. faster than ………..
 ….…… slower than …….
 ………. as fast as ………
 ………. better than …….
 ………. worse than …….
 ………. as good as …….




2. WHEN DID IT HAPPEN
 ……….. before ……….
 ……….. after …………
 ……….. until …………
 ……….. when ………..
 ……….. as soon as ……
 ……….. while …………
 ……….. during ………..


3. EXAMPLE

You have an American penfriend called Pat who asks what your bedroom is like. Write an email to Pat. In the email, you should:
 Tell her how big your room is
 Say what’s in the room
 Explain why you like it

Write 35-45 words


ADVICE
1. Read the instructions carefully and imagine the situation.
2. Make sure you write about all three points in the instructions.
3. Remember to address your message to the person named (eg Dear Pat, Hi Pat,).
4. Don’t forget to write your name at the end.
5. Don’t write less than 35 words or more than 45.
6.  Check what you have written for silly mistakes.




4. REPHRAISING

1. Do you play basketball well?
Are you a …………………… player?

2. Does art interest you?
Are you ………………… art?

3. What is your age?
How ………….. you?

4. Which is your favourite school subject?
Which school subject ………….. like best?

5. How is that spelt?
How do …………….. that?

6. Each lesson lasts forty minutes.
Each lesson …………….. long.

7. What‟s the price of this book, please?
How ………   this book, cost, please?

8. I think Spain is a wonderful country.
Spain is a wonderful country ……… opinion.

9. I think you are right about the weather.
I agree …………. about the weather.

10. I think mobile phones are very useful.
Mobile phones are very useful ……….. opinion.

11. We‟ll talk about the price first.
How ………………… about the price first?

12. Bill is too weak to carry the box.
Bill isn‟t …………. to carry the box.

13. In our school only a few students have curly hair.
In our school, not ………………….. curly hair.

14. My sister prefers milk chocolate to dark chocolate.
My sister likes milk chocolate ………… dark chocolate.

15. In our house, dinner is usually prepared by my father.
In our house, my father …………………. dinner.

16. My father said, „Come home at 10.‟
My father told ………home at 10.

17. Susan asked for paella in the restaurant.
In the restaurant, Susan said, „Can ………… paella, please?‟

18. Mary suggested that we order a pizza.
Mary said, „Let‟s ………………… a pizza.‟

19. Britain is a small island, so everywhere is near to the sea.
Britain is a small island, so nowhere is ………………. the sea.

20. Never go for a long run without taking water with you.
Take water with you, if you‟re ……………… a long run.

21. Look at a map of Africa if you want to find Zimbabwe.
You won‟t find Zimbabwe unless ……………………… a map of Africa.

22. I became a policeman five years ago.
I …………. a  policeman for five years.

23. I came to Spain in 2005.
I …………….. in Spain since 2005.

24. My mother asked me if I wanted an ice-cream.
My mother said, „Would …………. an ice-cream?‟

25. Yesterday a photographer took my photo.
Yesterday my photo ………..…….. a photographer.


LISTENING ( PRACTISE AND PRACTISE)

http://www.eltpodcast.com/archive/bc

miércoles, 27 de junio de 2012

PRESENT PERFECT AND B1 LEVEL


PRESENT PERFECT
We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.
Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We can do this with expressions such as: in the last week, in the last year, this week, this month, so far, up to now, etc. 
Examples:
  • have seen that movie twenty times.
  • I think I have met him once before.
  • There have been many earthquakes in California.
  • People have traveled to the Moon.
  • People have not traveled to Mars.
  • Have you read the book yet?
  • Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
  • A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?
  • B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.
NOTICE"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means the year before now, and it is considered a specific time which requiresSimple Past. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until now. It is not considered a specific time, so it requires Present Perfect.
Examples:
  • went to Mexico last year.
  • I went to Mexico in the calendar year before this one.
  • have been to Mexico in the last year.
  • I have been to Mexico at least once at some point between 365 days ago and now.





TRUE-FALSE READING COMPREHENSION

http://www.terra.es/personal2/zoy_yo/1bach/compre1.htm


LEVEL B1 READING COMPREHENSION

http://www.examenglish.com/PET/pet_reading1.htm

http://www.examenglish.com/PET/reading1.htm

http://www.examenglish.com/PET/pet_reading2.htm

http://www.examenglish.com/PET/pet_reading3.htm


LEVEL B1 LISTENING

http://www.examenglish.com/PET/pet_listening_part1.htm

http://www.examenglish.com/PET/pet_listening_part2.htm

http://www.examenglish.com/PET/pet_listening_part4.htm



domingo, 24 de junio de 2012

texts

TEXTS


A Navy hazing case that led to the firing of the top enlisted officer aboard a nuclear submarine was sparked by gay jokes about a sailor who said another man tried to rape him while in a foreign port, according to an investigative report obtained by The Associated Press.


1. The man that was fired was:
a) A journalist of The Associated Press.
b) a man in a foreign port.
c) a sailor who suffered of gay jokes.
d) the top enlisted officer aboard a nuclear submarine.




Recent crashes involving the U.S. military's latest transport aircraft are fueling an uproar in Japan that could threaten plans to deploy them to the southern island of Okinawa by the end of the year.


2. What is happening in Japan:
a) People are happy with the U.S. military's latest transport aicraft.
b) People are not happy with the U.S. military's latest transport aircraft.
c) Okinawa is going to belong to the U.S. 
d) Okinawa is not going to belong to the U.S.




All five airmen aboard an Air Force CV-22 Osprey were hospitalized after the tilt-rotor aircraft with a checkered safety record crashed in the Florida Panhandle, but none of the injuries were life-threatening, their commanding officer said Thursday.


3. What is wrong?
a) Five people have died.
b) Five people have been hospitalized by life-threatening injuries.
c) Five people have been hospitalized.
d) None of the airmen were injured.


The U.S. Navy says an aircraft carrier group recovered about 10 tons of marijuana dumped from small boats in the Pacific Ocean near California's border with Mexico.


4. What happened?
a) 10 tons of marijuana were dumped from small boats in the Pacific Ocean.
b) The U.S. Navy dumped 10 tons of marijuana in the Pacific Ocean.
c) Mexico dumped 10 tns of marijuana in the Pacific Ocean.
d) None of the above are correct.


Similarities in a caller's voice and phrasings have led the Coast Guard to believe there could be a link between a hoax distress call reporting a yacht explosion off New Jersey and a mayday call in Texas last month, an official said Wednesday.


5. Which one is true?
a) There was an explosion.
b) It was a joke.
c) the Coast Guard reported a explosion.
d) An official made a joke.






WRITINGS


EXAMPLE "ABOUT MYSELF"

http://www.saberingles.com.ar/writing/02.html

EXAMPLE "MY LAST WEEKEND"

http://www.saberingles.com.ar/writing/05.html



LISTENING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVOml3KUYPY


jueves, 14 de junio de 2012

Phonetics and negative sentences

WRITING (EXERCISE!)

VERBS TABLE


LISTENING & SPEAKING


Vowels (Phonetics)

æ / ɑː / ʌ                                  ɪ / iː                                         ʊ / uː             

cat /kæt/                                  sit /sɪt/                                      wool /wʊl/
car /kɑːr/                                 seat /st/                                   boom /bm/
cut /kʌt/

e / ə                                        ɜː                                             ɔː / ɒ               

wet  /wet/                                girl ɜːrl /                                  war /wɔːr /
runner / ˈrʌnər /                                                                         what /wɒt/




Diphthongs (Phonetics)


aɪ / eɪ / ɔɪ                               ɪə / eə / ʊə                              aʊ / əʊ           

bite /bt/                                beer /bɪə(r)/                               house /hs/
bait /bt/                                bear /b(r)/                              home /həʊm/
boy /bɔɪ/                                 poor /pʊə(r)/


Semiconsonants (Phonetics)

w                                            j                    

wet /wet/                                yet /jet/


Consonants (Phonetics)


voiceless / voiced
  • Labial:                                         p   pip /pɪp/    -   b   bib /bɪb
  • Dental:                                         t   ten /ten/     -   d   den /den/ 
  • Guttural:                                       k  kit /kɪt/      -   ɡ   git /ɡɪt/
  • Labiodental:                                 f   fish /fɪʃ/      -   v   vase /veɪs/
  • Interdental:                                   θ  thigh /θaɪ/   -  ð   this /ðɪs/
  • Glottal:                                         h  hen /hen/ 


the marvelous "S"

s saw /sɔː/ - z zoo /zuː/ 

ʃ shoe /ʃuː/ - ʒ television / ˈteləvɪʒən /


the affricate (obstruction and friction)


tʃ   church /ɜːr/   -   dʒ   judge 1 /ʌ/


nasals (from your nose)

m   man  /mæn/   -   n   nun /nʌn/   -   ŋ  sing /sɪŋ/


liquids (not to drink)

l    lid /lɪd/  -   r    rid /rɪd/





READING


The cold old house 

I once knew a house,
A cold, old house,
A cold, old house by the sea.
If I were a mouse,
In a cold, old house,
What a cold, old mouse I would be!


I joined the navy 

I joined the navy,
To see the sea.
And what did I see?
I saw the sea.


The wild rover 

I've been a wild rover for many a year,
And I've spent all my money on whisky and beer,
But now I'm returning with gold in great store,
Now I never will play the wild rover no more

And it's no, nay, never,
No nay never, no more,
Will I play the wild rover?
No, never, no more.



http://www.shiporsheep.com/

http://usefulenglish.ru/phonetics/practice-vowel-contrast


viernes, 8 de junio de 2012

Simple Sentences

LISTENING & SPEAKING


Personal Pronouns (Subject)

http://www.puroingles.com/pronombres-sujeto-en-ingles/

Verbs

  • TO BE

http://www.puroingles.com/el-verbo-to-be-en-ingles-con-sonido/

  • TO HAVE 

http://www.puroingles.com/el-verbo-to-have-en-ingles/

  • TO DO

http://www.puroingles.com/el-verbo-to-do-en-ingles/

Colours

http://www.puroingles.com/pronunciacion-de-los-colores-en-ingles/



 



READING

Primary colours are red, yellow and blue. If you want to get the secondary colours, you have to mix the primary ones. We have green when we mix yellow and blue; we have orange from red and yellow; and, finally, we have purple with red and blue.
The absence of colour is black and, on the contrary, white is the combination of all the colours. However, it is impossible to get white colour to paint mixing all the colours.
If we have a white crayon, we can mix it with red and we obtain pink.
Brown, is a curious color. It is possible to obtain a large variety of "browns" by mixing different reds, yellows, greens...

1- How many colours do we mention in the text? Is there any other colour in this page that we haven't mentioned?
2- How do we get the secondary colours? Can you explain one?
3- Nowadays, can we buy any colour to paint or do we have to mix some to obtain the colour we want?
4- What is your favourite colour and why? How do we obtain it?

WRITING


Now, you are going to fill in the gaps in a text.
Imagine you are writing a brief presentation about yourself to a person you want to know.

Presentation (fill in the gaps)

miércoles, 6 de junio de 2012

Introduction

LISTENING & SPEAKING


English alphabet (pronunciation)

http://www.puroingles.com/pronunciacion-del-abecedario-en-ingles/

Numbers in English 
  • from 0 to 20
http://www.puroingles.com/pronunciacion-numeros-0-20/
  • from 21 to 40
http://www.puroingles.com/los-numeros-del-21-al-40/

Months of the year 

http://www.puroingles.com/pronunciacion-meses-del-ano/

Days of the week

http://www.puroingles.com/pronunciacion-dias-semana/


READING

The first letter of the first month of the year in English is "J". The first letter of the first month in Spanish is "E"; but in Latin, it was "J", too.
The first letter of the second month in English is "F". The same in Spanish and Latin. "M", "A", "M", "J", "J", "A", "S", "O", "N", "D". However, July was the month number 5, August was the month number 6, September was the number 7, October was the number 8, November was the number 9 and December, number 10.

1- Is the letter of the first month in English and Spanish the same?
2- How many capital letters are there in the text? Can you read them aloud? When do we use a capital letter?
3- Nowadays, is September the month number 7? Which number is it?
4- Why do you think this numbers have changed?


WRITING

From the month you like most, write the 12 months in a list and its number.




sábado, 2 de junio de 2012

eseblis Military English

Hello everybody,
How are you? My pseudonym is Eseblis, I am Spanish and I am a teacher. I am having this blog on trial in order to see if a blog is useful to teach and learn a foreign language. If it is helpful, it will continue indefinitely; otherwise, it would vanish into the Net. 

My first experimental subject is a friend (TBA his name and picture if he wants :p) who wants to pass a Military English exam and I am going to help him to achieve it. So, let's start with the course! 
Hope it is entertaining!!!

Best regards,
eseblis