Introvert... and proud!

Click here to listen to a conversation about being introvert. Take notes and learn some vocabulary. The script is on the website.

Hobbies

Click here to read an example of how to talk about hobbies. 

Click here and select "Playing tennis tournaments". Listen to a man talking about playing tennis and do the test. 

Personality

Some vocabulary:

 




 Listen to the definition and choose the correct adjective.

Speaking: 

Click here to see possible ways of talking about personality in an oral exam.


A very interesting website. It includes a video and you can see the transcription and more examples below it. It gives you ideas about possible structures  and vocabulary you can use. Another two lessons about the same topic: positive and negative traits.


Some listening activities:

1. Best qualities.

2. Worst qualities.

3. Listen to Simon talking about his weak and strong personality traits.

Thanksgiving Day

I. Click here to watch Donald Trump pardoning his first turkey.

II. Click here to learn some vocabulary and read a text about this holiday. The key is included.

III. Watch the first part of this video (55" to 7'08") and answer the questions. First there's some history about the holiday and then three people explain what Thanksgiving means for them. Find the answers in "comments".

1. What kind of celebration was Thanksgiving in colonial times?
2. How did they offer thanks?
3. What did the Pilgrims of Plymouth celebrate (the most famous celebration)? When? Who with?
4. When did Abraham Lincoln proclaim the Day of National Thanksgiving?
5. What happened in 1941 by an Act of Congress?
6. Diana
a. What two elements did the celebration have in her family when she was young?
b. What did they use to do?
c. How is it different now?
d. What element is missing according to her?
7. Chris
a.  Why does he describe it as "a secular national Sabbath"?
b. What do people usually do?
c. Why is it different to other family meals?
8. Amy
a. Why do her granddaughters like the holiday?
b. What is the heart of the celebration?


 

Films in English!!

Auxiliary verbs

Auxiliary verbs used for emphasis



Questions tags

Watch the video and do the exercises.

Reply questions



Agreeing (So do I / Neither do I)

Click here to review how to use these structures and do the activities.

My Grammar Lab

If you want some extra practice about linkers click here and do Module 15 (pages 248-261 in the pdf / pages 237-250 in the book). You have the key on pages 399 and 400 in the pdf.

Cersei's Prophecy

Be aware of potential spoilers!! 
You've been warned!!

Watch the video. Answer the questions and complete the prophecy. Check your answers in "comments".



1. According to the girl (young Cersei), what did people say about the woman?
2. What does she think about her?
3. What does Cersei want?
4. Why does she say she has to do it?
5. What's Cersei's threat?
6. What does the woman need?
7. How many questions can she ask?
8. What are the questions?

9. "You'll never wed __________________. You'll wed __________________."
10. "You'll be ____________________________________. Then comes another, __________________, more beautiful, to __________________ and take all you hold dear."
11. "The king will have __________________ and you'll have __________________."
12. "Gold will be __________________ and gold will be their shrouds*"

*Shroud: a cloth or long loose piece of clothing that is used to wrap a dead body before it is buried.

-ed pronunciation

EDsongs 1 from Luiz Otávio Barros on Vimeo.

Festivals and celebrations

Vocabulary:

1. Celebrations, parties and special occasions.
2. Celebrating and entertaining.

1 & 3 tg5 - fetivals and special ocassions de David Lobato

Click here to see some notes for the episode in the video above.
Here you are some activities related to the same video and notes.
This is the website where you also have the script.


Practice



Listening

1. Celebrations

2. Unusual British Festivals

Click here for an old post about the same topic.

A trip to Murcia

Click here to see the explanation of the visit.

Covering email for job application

Writing a covering email to accompany your CV

If your CV is attached to the email, then use the main body of the email as your covering letter. Tell the employer how you meet their key requirements so that you can immediately make a good impression and entice them to open the attachment and look at your CV in more detail.

• In the subject line of the email, list the vacancy title, reference number and where you saw or heard about the vacancy
• Use the body of the email to convince the recruiter (qualifications, experience, skills) that you are the right person for the job
• Send the CV as an attachment clearly labelled with your name
• Spell-check before sending the email

Here's an example:

Web Content Manager Cover E-mail

Subject Line of Email Message: Web Content Manager - Your Name

Email Message:

Dear contact person,

I am writing to express my interest in the Web Content Manager position listed on Monster.com on 23th October.

As you will see from my CV, I hold a degree in journalism and I am currently finishing a course in web related marketing and development at Oxford University. I have fairly good knowledge of HTML, Photoshop, Dreamweaver and MS-FrontPage.

At the moment I am working as a self-employed content developer for different companies. I am good at understanding the objectives of the different organizations and their target audience. My responsibilities range from developing unique ideas, editing and proofreading the articles before publishing them to managing social media. Much of my experience is in the business world and I am used to creating web content based on analytical reports, press releases or survey reports always presenting them in a lucid, simple and easy to understand language.

My experience has taught me how to build strong relationships with all departments at an organization. I can also work with web engineers to resolve technical issues and implement design and functional enhancements. I am a hard-working and responsible person with excellent communication skills and I would like the opportunity to develop those skills in more of a team environment. For these reasons I am very interested in working for your company.

I would be pleased to discuss this email and my enclosed CV. Thank you for your consideration.

  

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Name and surname

Email: firstlast@gmail.com
Mobile phone: 555-124-1245

Listening practice: a ghost hunter

You will hear a radio interview with a ghost hunter called Carlene Belfort. There are seven multiple-choice questions and you should listen to it twice.

Horror Stories

Do you like horror movies?


Listen to the story of Annabelle the doll, which is in the opening scenes of ‘The Conjuring’ and was released as a prequel to the film. It is based on a true story.

Click here to read the story. It includes a glossary at the bottom of the page.



'It Hurts a Bit'

You can listen to the story below and read it here.