Treble Clef

In case Irene (NI2) wants to have her tattoo made in an English-speaking country, "Treble Clef" is what she'd have to say for "Clave de Sol" ;-)

(Image by Chema Madoz)

Phrasal Verbs

Morning everybody!
Here's a recommendation Isabel sent me for the blog: a booklet of phrasal verbs you can get in this link.
Thanks, Isabel!

Sounds conveying meaning

Go to this Bristish Council page and do the exercise on sounds. It's interesting!

Speaking was never easier

Hi again!
Today I'm feeling better and I've been searching for tools and widgets that can be interesting for us. The previous post was about using the "Lingro" dictionary while reading online, and this one is about a widget I just installed so that you can record messages and send them over to me. It's funny because you're very shy and don't even send written messages to me through the blog, so... I'm not very sure what to expect ;-) 
You just have to click on the microphone tag on the right and start recording on your computer. I'll receive the message but it won't be automatically published in the blog if you don't want to. I've already figured out ways to publish your spoken comments as well, if you want me to ;-)

Speaking exercise proposal: why don't you leave a message explaining the type of ordinary moment you love most? Here's mine
And many other beautiful ones in this video


(A good exercise with this video is to try and describe all the types of moments that are shown; that'll be good for your vocabulary building!)

Advice

Advice: uncountable noun
Let me give you some advice
Let me give you a piece of advice

The English teachers don't teach in class... In this link

Kitchen utensils

Anticipating your funny questions in class, here's a picture of some common kitchen utensils ;-)

It's been taken from this online visual dictionary which you might find interesting

Idioms

Hi there!

Here's a little exercise on idioms that have to do with books: match the phrases from 1 to 8 with the meanings from A to H below. And remember: try to use the new vocabulary in a personal context that you can remember well!

1. to speak volumes of somebody/something

2. to be an open book

3. to do something by the book / to go by the book

4. to have one's nose in a book

5. not in my book

6. judge a book by its cover

7. not to crack a book

8. one for the books

A. not according to my views

B. a record-breaking or remarkable act

C. easy to know what they are thinking and feeling

D. to read a book

E. not to open a book to study

F. as the rules demand

G. prejudge the worth or value of something

H. to make a situation very clear without the use of words

The key is, as always, in the comments.

Pain / Ache / Hurt

Now that we're dealing with injuries, doing this vocabulary exercise might be a good idea!

Sideburns

Now that we're learning vocabulary to describe people, I found this curious...
(The name of the guy, in case you don't understand it, is Ambrose Burnside, American Civil War General)

All - Eco-friendly cleaning products

Clean Green: How To Clean Your House Without Harming The Environment

Check this video out!

All - Revise Phrasal Verbs

Dear All,

it's a good idea to revise phrasal verbs from time to time.
Follow this link.

Orangutan Does Housework

Hi there!

Since we've been studying household chores vocabulary, you may want to write a story about the orangutan in this video. A first student starts the story in the comment section and, instead of writing new ones, a second student completes it by adding adjectives, adverbs, or anything the first student might have forgotten. You just have to copy and paste the first student's story in another comment, and so on with the third, fourth, fifth, etc. student.
You should construct a story that suits the orangutan but of course you can set your imagination free by making up any details that make the story a more entertaining one.

[PS. I put this under "Fun stuff," but after reading one of the comments on YouTube, that when orangutans cover their face, that means they're depressed, I'm not so sure I find it fun... I apologize to orangutans in advance in case such comment is right ;-)]

Headline English

Hi there! Here's a little exercise for you to do:

- Browse a newspaper in English (you have links on the right column) and choose a headline you would not have understood before studying the vocabulary we're learning in class.
- Now that you know the vocabulary, explain the headline in your own words, with an appropriate complete sentence.
- You may also want to do a bit of research on the political leanings or ideology of the newspaper you chose. That's a type of cultural content worth learning about.

An example has been given in the comment section below.

Funky Phrasals

Dear All,

here's a good BBC page for you to learn phrasal verbs in context and to practise them (by listening and doing vocabulary exercises).

All - Country Names

This is revision for all of you: country names. Let Lilly, an incredible two-year-old baby, help you revise!