24/12/2012
The Great Spanish Crash
I know today is not the day for this kind of post, but you can watch the video any time, when you feel like it. It's interesting to know how other countries see us, so here's the BBC documentary certain people didn't like in Spain...
17/12/2012
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!)
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!)
06/12/2012
Word order
Hi!
Here's an example of word-by-word translation from Spanish into English
Spanish allows for a freer word order than English. In English, if a verb has a direct object, the verb and the object are kept together. In the billboard, the "bike" is the direct object of the verb "rent", so the advertisers should have written "Rent your bike here"
Of course there are exceptions, like in the following passage, which is the beginning of a story I've just read:
Spanish advertising is full of incorrect English, so watch out!
Here's an example of word-by-word translation from Spanish into English
Of course there are exceptions, like in the following passage, which is the beginning of a story I've just read:
"On the
bench outside the station, I sat and waited. The station had been open when the
train arrived, but now it was locked. Another woman sat at the end of the
bench, holding between her knees a string bag full of parcels wrapped in oiled
paper."
In this case, the direct object ("a string bag full of parcels wrapped in oil paper") is very long,
so "between her legs" comes first and the direct object is left for the last part of the sentence.
Spanish advertising is full of incorrect English, so watch out!
01/12/2012
The "poorest President" in the world
Watch this video and try to answer the questions below, which I have taken from Ian James' wonderful blog for English teachers:
- How does international media refer to José Mújica?
- Where exactly is his house?
- How does José Mujica define poor people?
- What does he own according to his latest declaration of wealth?
- What does he do with his salary?
- What is his political background?
- What does the man interviewed say about his lifestyle and political record?
- What do his approval ratings say about his popularity?
- What does his main political rival accuse him of?
- What does Mújica hope for in the future?
You can find the answers in the comments, as always ;-)
25/11/2012
23/11/2012
Dumb ways to die
NB2: You may read the subtitles
NI2: Try not to read the subtitles
Both: Watch the video and try to remember as many dumb ways to die as possible (say them out loud after watching) ;-)
NB2: dumb - dumber - the dumbest (We haven't seen the comparative and superlative adjectives yet. For now, I'll only tell you: "the dumbest way" = "la manera más tonta de..."
Remember the movie "Dumb and Dumber" ("Dos tontos muy tontos")? Well, one of them seems to be dumber than the other ;-)
Ah! And don't pronounce the "b" in these adjectives (dumb, dumber, dumbest)
21/11/2012
Announcement
Dear All,
you can now go to class because I've been told the substitute teacher has been sent to the school.
I'm glad the classes can start again!
Keep on reading the books I asked you to read because we'll talk about them when I'm back
Big hug for everybody!
you can now go to class because I've been told the substitute teacher has been sent to the school.
I'm glad the classes can start again!
Keep on reading the books I asked you to read because we'll talk about them when I'm back
Big hug for everybody!
19/11/2012
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