Friday, June 25, 2010

End of the year

Well, the course has come to an end and I'll be leaving Lucena next week. I've had a great time teaching you guys and I want to wish you all the best for the future. Thanks again for the photo, it was a very nice thought and I'm pleased you went to the trouble of finding me to give me the present!

I'll leave the blog here on the internet so that you can use it over the summer and maybe next year if you want.

Ok, take care, have a great summer and make sure you do something everyday to learn some English, even if it's just one phrasal verb it will be useful!

Bye!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Another great phrasal verbs resource.

Check this out.

It's a great phrasal verb dictionary. You can search for PVs or just browse through and there are also quizzes to test yourself. Have a look at the GET list!

Reading Practice

Try to find the time to do this exercise as reading practice. Remember the techniques we discussed in class!

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/part3.htm

See you on Thursday!

R

P.S. Now the annoying music will have left the main page of the blog!

Monday, June 7, 2010

Oral Exam

Hi guys,

I just want to remind you that Tuesday 8th June (tomorrow!) is your oral exam, so please come if you can, even if it's only to do the exam and then go home. The exam will only be about 8 minutes long.

Also, I think the written exam should be on Thursday 17th June because Tuesday 22nd will be our final class.

By the way, if somebody writes one more post the annoying music from the dvolver cartoon won't appear on the main page any more, who's going to do it?!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Paz Ahora 2010

This is about I spoke last class which I went with my peace's t-shirt. See you!

An awareness test

Let's see how good you are at Maths...
Enjoy!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Video quiz - world environment day

Here's a video you can watch and then there are some questions to answer.

It's a great way to practise your listening skills! Have a look around the website, there are other videos and quizzes as well!

History Pin - compare the old and the new

What a great idea this is!

Mixing Google street view with pictures of old photos historypin can help you see what things used to look like. A the moment there only seems to be stuff in the UK, lots of London. Maybe you could add something for Lucena?! Have your parents or grandparents got any old photos?

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

knockin on heavens door bob dylan






A good song by Bob Dylan. Here are the lyrics:

Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Exams

Here's a funny video to cheer you up during your arduous study periods!


Could you write this fast?!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

On the Beach with George Bush and an Elf

Here's your funny little film, I think it's great! If you have time, make another one yourself, take a break from studying and relax!


Oral exam

The delayed and rearranged oral exam will be on Thursday, so I really hope you can come to class, even if you just come for the exam itself, which is only about 10 minutes long.

See you later.

Modal Verbs

Here's a great page with an overview of modal verbs. They can be quite difficult to understand and use correctly and I think this page displays them in a clear table, showing the differences.

See the page here

Also, at the bottom of the page, there's a link to a quiz where you can practise using modal verbs.

Have fun!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

The butterfly circus

Here you are.This video shows us that nothing is impossible.
I hope you'll like it! Watch it if you have some free time!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Admongo

Here's a link to the advertising game we tried out in class. I think it's great fun and a good way to practise your English as well as learn more about the world of advertising.

Admongo

Mobile Learning

Would you like to try learning English via your mobile phone? Have you got an internet enabled mobile, maybe an iphone?

Check this out.

Why not give some of the games a try, when you're waiting for something, you can play a game to practise your English!

Write a blues song!

Maybe at the moment you've got the 'Exam Blues'! Make yourself feel better by being creative on this great site. You can write your own blues song, then you can share it by email - maybe we can sing it in class!

http://www.thebluesmaker.com/

Try it out when you have a few minutes spare.

English Idioms#2 - Face the music

Here's another idiom - to face the music

Watch this video, but beware, there's some singing!


Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Action Maze

This is basically a 'choose your own adventure' story. Read each text and decide what to do next!

Go here and follow the instructions.

Have fun!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

My basketball team

I remember when, a few years ago, I talked to my school friends about how much I liked basketball, football, tennis.... but it was so difficult for Spanish girls to play any sport, at least here in my town, Lucena. I couldn’t understand why, but the majority of the girls in the town don’t usually play any sport.
Then, Lucena opened a new basketball club. It attracted a lot of young people, and the thing that I liked most was the possibility of a girls team.
I loved the idea! And my friends too. At first, only five girls arrived there, saying we wanted to create our own team.
And it was fantastic! Other people found it a bit strange, and we were known (and still we are) as “the basket girls”
Then, some new girls started to come. Some stayed and they are still with us, others couldn’t follow our schedule, because it’s true that it is a serious club, not just a team to have fun. We have to train and play matches, which are every weekend.
Now there are 10 of us, but that’s enough, in spite of the frequent injuries.
Last year, we were in a league, and we won! We learnt quite quickly, at least to win, (but it wasn’t a very strong league for very good teams, to be honest).
This year the team is a official league team, and it is harder! But we are proud, we are still learning and training hard to improve as much as possible. Maybe, next year, we’ll win again! Anyway, I love this experience and I feel lucky because I have the opportunity to play a sport that I really like!

Quote of the week!

"The difference between school and life?

In school you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson."

Tom Bodett

What do you think of this quote?

Monday, May 24, 2010

Phrasal Verbs

Some good mini-lessons on this site introducing phrasal verbs.

This time it's 'to listen in'

Have a look!

Oral Exam

Hi guys, I hope you've had a great weekend. What beautiful weather, eh?! I went to the beach, did any of you?!

The oral exam won't be on Tuesday, I'll give you more information when I see you in the class. Jenny is going to do the exams and because of all the other classes exams on Monday and Tuesday and the Trinity exam preparation she won't be available.

So, we've got more time to practise! Watch the videos though so that you have a better idea about the situation you'll be in; remember, it's only parts 2 and 3 this time.

See you all tomorrow.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

FCE Speaking Videos



Interactive Video

Watch what happens in the video, then decide what happens next!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

GET dialogues!

Here are two short dialogues written and recorded in the class today, can you hear all the phrasal verbs with 'get'? Do you know what they mean?!








Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Vocabulary

Here's some vocabulary from the lesson this evening that some of you didn't know or weren't too sure about. If you can't remember the words you can look them up here: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/

chimney sweep
central-heating
chemical
to fix
mechanic
untidy
disorganised
to work from home
graphic designer
web designer

I enjoyed the lesson tonight, I hope you did too!

Please remember to correct your writing on google docs. Maripaz, you can post your work now, it's really good! Well done!

Ok, see you all on Thursday

Monday, May 10, 2010

Social Media

You are all now bloggers, because taking part in this class blog. You all use tuenti - I think! Some of you use facebook. What about youtube, flickr, twitter? All these things are known as 'social media'.


How important is social media? Is it part of an internet revolution? Watch this video and let me know what you think!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Kazakhstan

Well, yesterday you guys seemed interested in finding out more about Kazakhstan after you discovered that I had lived there! So, as a bit of optional homework, if you have time, you could have a look here at the wikipedia entry. I reckon the truth will be different to your perceptions! Here are some photos:




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


Have a great weekend


See you next week.


R

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

i dreamed a dream by Mª José

I used to dream of being different in sociaty
I used to dream of being special to my friends
I used to dream of changing the feelings of others
and of dancing
but all I want right now is to continue dreaming.

I dreamed a dream by Mister Lechado

I used to dream of save lives
I used to dream of being a good father
I used to dream thatI would be happier than then
abd of doing the most exciting things I have never done
but I want right now is to eat something

P.S. My dream has come true

I used to dream...

I used to dream of playing basketball well.
I used to dream that I could read 100 books in a week.
I used to dream of being a teacher.
And of never meeting mister lechado.
But all I want right now is listen to Richard´s Spanish

I dreamed a dreamed by CASTROTEBA

I used to dream of being a rap singer
I used to dream of being an English teacher
I used to dream of being happy
and of travelling around the world
but all I want right now is to have more dreams

I dreamed a dream by Pedro

I used to dream of having a good job.
I used to dream of having a lot of money.
I used to dream of having a good wife and of being happy
but all I want right now is that Real Madrid win "La Liga"

Some more interesting sites for you to read!

I have found two more websites that you can read for extra practice, they both have loads of stuff to read. 


The first is great blog by a guy called Gary who is travelling the world and has been for a couple of years! He writes new stuff regularly and also posts photos and videos which are well worth taking a look at. Here's his latest post from Valencia, where he is currently.


The other site is called Exploratorium and has some great information about the science of music, such as 'Why does my singing sound so great in the shower?!' You can read it even if you think that your singing doesn't sound great - in the shower or not!


See you all later!

Friday, April 30, 2010

Happy Aracelitanas!

Hi everyone,


Have a great time over the weekend, enjoy the celebrations.


Maybe next week you could post something saying what you did and what you thought of the festival.


See you next week!

Monday, April 26, 2010

It's book week!

It's book week at the school where I used to teach in Braga, Portugal. The students have been writing on their blog about books that they have enjoyed reading.


Here's the link, why not go and have a look, leave a comment for somebody if you want, my friend Anna (the teacher) would love it if you did!


Writing Task

Just a reminder about your writing task - could you email it to me as soon as you can?! I've only received two so far...so hurry up! ; )

See you tomorrow.

Richard

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Amazing...

It is the history of a 9-year-old girl of Dublin who called to a company of demolitions to demolish her school. Hadnt you liked to do this ever?

Thursday, April 22, 2010

An amazing story!

Have a look at this:

Croatian teenager wakes from coma and speaks fluent German! 

Tell everybody what you think. Is it a hoax? Could it be true? Imagine if you went into a coma and woke up speaking fluent English, but not Spanish! How would you feel?!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

the best video i've seen ever

English Idioms#1 - The early bird catches the worm

I've found a great channel on youtube with a selection of videos for learning idioms in British English, check it out, it's brilliant!


Here's an example - 'the early bird catches the worm' - do you know what it means? You will if you watch this video!


Sunday, April 18, 2010

where is the love?

this is a wonderful video that talks about the problems in the world and this music group (black eyed peas) say that the problems can be resolved with the love.




What's wrong with the world mama?
People living like aint got no mamas
I think the whole worlds addicted to the drama
Only attracted to the things that bring you trauma
Overseas yeah we tryin to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin
In the USA the big CIA the Bloodz and the Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And if you hatin you're bound to get irate
Yeah madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
You gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love y'all

People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?(where is the lovex3)(the love2x)

It just ain't the same all ways have changed
New days are strange is the world the insane?
If love and peace so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations dropping bombs
Chemical gases filling lungs of little ones
With ongoing suffering
As the youth die young
So ask yourself is the loving really strong?
So I can ask myself really what is going wrong
With this world that we living in
People keep on giving in
Makin wrong decisions
Only visions of them livin and
Not respecting each other
Deny thy brother
The wars' going on but the reasons' undercover
The truth is kept secret
Swept under the rug
If you never know truth
Then you never know love
Where's the love y'all?(I don't know)
Where's the truth y'all?(I don't know)
Where's the love y'all?

People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father father father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?(where is the lovex3)(the lovex2)

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm getting older y'all people get colder
Most of us only care about money makin
Selfishness got us followin the wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting their young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what the see in the cinema
Whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness and equality
Instead of spreading love, we're spreading anomosity
Lack of understanding, leading us away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling down
It's no wonder why sometimes I'm feeling under
I gotta keep my faith alive, until love is found

People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?(fade)

Thursday, April 15, 2010

A crazy rapping dog!

This is a crazy rapping dog that Marie José, Ana and Mister Lechado made, because they had time after finishing their work early!

Enjoy!


Click here to comment on this Voki.
Get a Voki now!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Sporty chicken announcement


Click here to comment on this Voki.
Get a Voki now!

Well, now it's your turn!

Footballers and other sports people earn a lot of money, far more than doctors or politicians, for example.

Do you think they deserve it?

What jobs do you think deserve the most pay?

Let's have a debate!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

I did it!

Hi everyone!
Well, yes, I know I'm a bit late... But I'm here at the end! I thought it was easier...
Anyway, I'm gonna say some things about myself!
I am Ana, as you know, and I love going out, spending my time on the telephone (overall if I should be studying), and sport! I'm crazy about basketball and tennis, and I also like volleyball and anyother sport!
I prefer punk music. I often listen to Simple Plan, Sum 41, Blink 182...
And, obviously, I LOVE my English class! And I think Richard is the best teacher in the world! (....Will I have a 10 in our next exam? XD )
Well, that's all! See you later!

Monday, April 12, 2010

OK Go! Really clever music video

I have recently come across this music video by the American band Ok Go! I think it's extremely inventive and I've watched it loads of times because I love it. It's so different from the boring videos that win MTV awards, like Beyoncé dancing in silly costumes.


 Let me know what you think!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Exam Practice

Last lesson I promised to post some links to practice exercises I thought would help you prepare for this week's exam. Here they are! Let me know if you have any problems or if you are confused about how something works or why you got an answer wrong, for example.


Here are the links:



Use of English




Reading


Listening


Also, this isn't related directly to this exam, but is useful to all of you. We were chatting the other day about the 'infinitive of purpose', because it is common error. For example, often you say something like: 'She went to the library for study', when you should say, 'She went to the library to study'.

Here is a link for an explanation in Spanish. 


I hope this helps. See you tomorrow!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Homework answers

I invited you all to view a google document by sending an email, so you should have received an email saying that I have invited you to share a google document, or something. If you look at this you'll find the answers to the homework tasks.

If you have any questions about anything, let me know, by email or here on the blog, replying to this message.

I hope you've had a good weekend!

Friday, March 19, 2010

The Black Hole

This is the video we watched in class last night. Please write some comments here, don't worry if you repeat something that was said in class. Think about these things:


What should the man have done to avoid getting into this situation?
What would you have done if you were him?
What would you do if you had a black hole like this?

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

BLINK 182- ROCK SHOW

In this video they waste lot of money!! I like the song but I think that the money is better in Africa or in the poor villages in America...

Look at it and comment please!

A great website with activities for music videos

Good evening grandma's duck team!

Please check this out http://www.lyricstraining.com/index.php. I came across it today and I thought you guys would really enjoy it, as you seem to like using songs to learn English.

It's great fun and not difficult to use, so what are you waiting for?!

See you soon

Richard

I'M YOURS UKELELE

This is a very funny video, is a boy who sings I'm yours by Jason Mraz, whith the ukelele.

The boy is only 4 years old wen he was recorded.

Amazing.


Today's Lesson

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to remind you all that there will be an exam next Tuesday, so today and Thursday's lesson will be used to help you prepare for doing the exam. I hope your school exams are going well.

See you later!

Richard

Thursday, March 11, 2010

it is my turn¡¡¡

Hi, my name is maripaz, and I am mister lechado´s best friend, this is a good idea because mister lechado knows where you live, and this is really dangerous.

I like Monty Python videos because they are really funny.

At the weekend, I go to the cinema with my friends.

I love reading too. My favourite kinds of books are fantasy books and andventures books.

In English class we have listened to songs and watched Monty Python videos.

We do a lot of things in our English class. Our last idea was to create a blog.

We call it THE GRANDMA ´S DUCK because in front of our English class there is a grandma with a dog that is always barking.

The duck is another story that I´ll tell you next time.

The duck, who am I?

Hi I´m the duck, I like doing sport, listening music and meeting with my friends. My favourite sports are: football, volleyball, surfing and tennis. My favourite team is Real Madrid without Kaká, because he doesn´t cause problem for the other team, he causes problems for Real Madrid because he loses the ball and the other team can counter-attack, my favourite type of music is Pop-Rock and Rock, AC/DC and U2, I like meeting with my friends because I enjoy spending my free time with them.

This is Mister Lechado´s time!!!

Hi! I am Mister Lechado, and no, I am not more than 18 years old haha.

Well, the first thing I want to say is... I know where you live, so try to be nice with me.

Well now I will be serious, I like sports, to annoy Maria José and Maripaz, well things that all teennagers do.

My favourite band is Linkin Park, of course.

I like English class too, because I enjoy it, but...it isn´t funny when Real Madrid lose because Richard is very evil.

Well I think I have said all that I can so see you later!! ^^

WANNABE'S VIDEO

I love this video, because it is very funny and these boys do a very good and crazy version of the song wannabe, by The Spice girls

Please look at it and comment.

What do you think?



CASTROTEBA. WHO AM I?

Hi! My nickname is Castroteba.

I am 15 years old and I live on Planet Earth.

I like poetry, listening to rap, Nirvana, AC/DC, red hot chilli peppers, punk rock and lots of types of music.

I like football, basketball, table-tennis, volleyball, swimming and lots of sports.

I love countryside and my favourite thing about the countryside is going with my friend Saba and exploring the river on the via Verde walking exciting walks.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010





Wordle: Lyrics and other things...
If you are a nerd... (maybe you are) try to understand these silly words...

Friday, March 5, 2010

Hello, I'm grandma

Hi, I'm Grandma, I like cooking, watching English classes through my window and listening to my dog barking.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

The First Post

Congratulations!

Welcome to The Grandma´s Duck!

We hope that this blog will be better than the title!



This is our favourite video! But it´s a bit sick!