Lola's Blog

Storm in the mountains by Albert Bierstadt. When was the last time that you watched the weather forecast? How much vocabulary do you know to talk about cold or hot weather? Do you know any expressions for talking about the weather? In this post you will learn vocabulary related to the weather and you will be able to keep updated on the latest weather report. Listening If you would like to prepare this listening activity beforehand, you are very welcome to download this PDF file . You can also download the MP3 file for your personal use at home. Watch the weather forecast If you would like to check the weather forecast on a daily basis, you can visit the BBC Weather page.

Public domain. Pixabay Speaking 1) What can you see in this picture? 2) What words come to your mind in connection with the word crime? 3) Make a list of different types of crime and the people involved in each type of crime. 4) What type of crime is common in Spain? How does Spain compare with other types of crime in the US, for example?   First we'll work on vocabulary and then on crimes that have shaken the people around the world and the media. Vocabulary. Part 1 Complete Worksheet 1 about types of crme, criminals and crime verbs. How much vocabulary do you remember? Try this quiz . Any good? That's great Now you are going to do something more challenging, mindmaps . Click on the link below to see a better picture. Image by Nicogauro. Wikipedia. CC BY SA Mindmaps can be very useful to remember a lot of vocabulary. Click here to see an example of a mindmap about crime . You will notice that it has only some of the types of crime that we have...

Image by Gdudycha. CC BY SA. Wikimedia Commons Speaking Have you ever felt under a lot of stress? Look at the image above and tick the symptoms you have experienced or are experiencing at the moment because of stress.  Look up the meaning of  taut muscles ,  muddled thinking ,  hasty decisions ,  accident prone,   res tlessness . Do you have any recipe for a stress-free lifestyle? Watch this video Vocabulary Check the meaning of the following vocabulary before you watch: a) core issue       b) thorny issue      c) flexitime      d) paternity leave   e) corporation f) to get a grip  on something    g) to pause h) to work long hours    i) it's up to you Watch Nigel Marsh talking about how to make work-life balance work. It's a 10 minute long video. Task 1. He talks about four observations and then gives some tips on how ...

Public domain Can you answer these questions?: Do you know the difference between work and job ? Which words collocate with do and make ? For example, what is correct make or do a living ? Have you been made redundant recently?  Which big company has announced a new round of layoffs ? How much paternity leave can you take in Spain? If you are a parent, how do you juggle work and family life ? What is the state retirement age ? Do you get any perks in your company? Vocabulary What words come to your mind if somebody mentions the following?: unemployment job security casual employment changing work patterns employment opportunities maternity/paternity leave sick leave childcare retirement Can you speak for 4-6 minutes on each topic? Well, you'll have to work at it or work your socks off! Topic 1. Unemployment Follow this link to read an article about Spain . Follow this link to read about benefits in the UK , and this one to read about redundan...

What words do you associate with seaside ? When was the last time you went to the beach? Did you have a good time? Did anything wrong or unusual happen? Has anyone or anything ever spoilt your holiday at the seaside? You are going to read an extract from Bill Bryson's book Notes from a Big Country . Reading Read "A day at the seaside" and explain why Bryson had a hell of a time. Vocabulary  Click here to download a works heet with vocabulary from the text above. Reporting verbs When we report or paraphrase a message or what someone said, we use reporting verbs such as tell, say, advise, convice, claim, sugge st, recommend, etc. Reporting verbs follow different patterns: verb + direct object (hearer) + to-infinitive Jenny asked me to come to the party verb + direct object (hearer) + that clause I convi nced myself that I was doing the right thing verb + to-infinitive I refuse to tell you the truth verb + that clause  Claire recommend s ...

Kings College. Andrew Dunn. CC BY-SA 2.0 Last week we talked about education and the  educational system in the UK. We covered a lot of vocabulary. If you are still confused by all the academic terms we saw in class click on this British Council glossary . If you would like to read more on education for students aged 16 and under (primary and secondary education) click here . After compulsory education students can opt for futher education or higher education . Do you remember the difference?  Further education is for students aged 16 and over while higher education is for students aged 18 and over. Follow this link to learn more. Oxbridge Can you guess what Oxbridge means?  That's right. The universities of Oxford and Cambridge, two of the most prestigious universities in the world. How much do you know about Oxford or Cambridge? Are they public or private universities? Click here to check what the entry requirements are. How about tuition fees? Clic...

Public domain What can you see in this picture. Do you agree it is the most dangerous animal on earth? Why not? Think of at least five very dangerous animals and explain why they can be considered extremely dangerous. Think of a synonym for dangerous Can you think of another word that means "dangerous"? Click here to find out. Make a note of the comparative and the superlative form of this adjective. Reading about dangerous animals Do you have your list with dangerous animals ready? Ok, you are going to read an article from the BBC about the deadliest animals on earth. Check the following: 1) are your animals on your list in this article? 2) are you surprised? Read again and make a note of 5 news words or short phrases that you have learnt.

©Image by Lola la Torre Look at the picture above. Do you know what kind of house it is? Is it a detached house or  a terrace house ? Click here to revise vocabulary. Parts of the house. Outside ©Image by Lola la Torre Can you name the different parts of the house in this picture. Do you need help? Click here . Parts of the house. Inside  Image by JJ Harrison CC BY SA Can you describe this photo? Do you need help? Click here . If you would like to learn more vocabulary about houses and its contents, click here . Shakespeare's  house ©Image by Lola la Torre This is Shakespeare's house. What kind of house is it? Would you like to visit it? Well, we are going to take a virtual tour. You can leave a comment if you found this post useful.

Newcastle University. Public domain This post is about the British educational system. You are going to learn about schools. Vocabulary 1) Do you remember these words? nursery school, boarding school, state school,  private school 2) Do you know another word for private school ? Schools How much do you know about schools in Britain? Can you answer the following questions? Is education in the UK compulsory?  When do children start school?  Can children be educated at home?  When does the academic year start and finish?  How much holiday do pupils get? What is GCSE? and A-levels?  What do these letters mean: A*, A, B, C, D, E, F, G? Do parents send their children to state or private schools? What is the difference between "state" and "public school"? To check your answers to questions 1-7 click here . To check your answers to questions 8-7 click here . Public schools Now you know that "public school" is a false friend in Spa...

This post is about food and recipes. How much do you know about British food? Do you prefer sweet or savoury? Look at the food displayed in this photo. What can you buy in this shop? © Lola la Torre  Now look at this photo. What kind of drinks can you order? © Lola la Torre Look at the menu below: © Lola la Torre a) Have you ever tried any of these dishes? b) Can you identify the main courses and the desserts? Brushing up your food vocabulary Do you need to brush up your food vocabulary? How about going to a supermarket and doing some online shopping? It's the best way to learn about food items and produce. You are going to visit Tesco , a big supermarket chain in the UK. Click here to browse what they have available in terms of fruti and vegetables, meat and poultry, fish and seafood, dairy products. Fancy a croissant? Well, visit the bakery and make a list of items for your shopping trolley. Perhaps you need some olive oil or ketchu...

Super Typhoon Paka. Public domain This post is about natural disasters. You will learn about earthquakes, floods, typhoons, cyclones, tsunamis and more. Do you remember the last time an earthquake hit the news on TV? How much do you know about floods, or tsunamis? Visit this BBC page and make a list of 9 natural disasters.     Earthquakes Aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. Public domain What are earthquakes? Click here to find out more. How much do you know about the earthquake in Nepal ? What is the death toll so far? Follow this BBC link. Tsunamis  Image by Gerald Simmons. CC BY NC SA   Read the introduction about tsunamis and try to explain what they are. Video 1 Vocabulary Check the meaning of the following words: cliff ,   sea bed ,   fault .   Watch this video and make notes on the surprising facts scientists have discovered about the 2004 tsunami. Video 2 What makes the...

Marilyn Monroe. Public domain Do you think that beautiful people are happier and more successful than less beautiful people? What do you know about Marilyn Monroe? Was she beautiful and successful ? Was she happy? This post is about plastic surgery, their benefits and risks. You are going to revise parts of the body, and the structure have/get something done to talk about plastic surgery procedures. Vocabulary Click here to revise vocabulary about the body . Click here to revise vocabulary about the face . Reading Read "Plastic surgery booming in the UK" and answer the following questions: What are the top ten surgical procedures in the UK? What is the most popular procedure among women? and among men? What does the article say about faulty breast implants?  Watch this video Watch Dr  Rajiv Grover talk about the rise of cosmetic surgery in the UK? He mentions a tried and tested procedure? What is it? What is the percentage of people rejected for ...

David Fincher by Elen Nivrae. CC-BY This post is about the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which was directed by American director and producer David Fincher. You are going to learn vocabulary for talking and reviewing a film review. Your last task will be to write a review of about 200-230 words. You should bring to class your student book Global , along with the handout on how to write a book review.   The director and the cast How much do you know about the director, David Fincher? and the cast? Photo by Maggie. CC-BY Photo by Paul Cush. CC-BY Photo by The Heart Truth. Public domain You can follow these links if you would like to learn more about David Fincher, Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Taraji P. Henson . Watch this interview with Taraji P. Henson How many actors played the character of Benjamin Button? Why? How did she establish chemistry with a character played by different people? How did Queenie survive in a h...

Public domain Think of an answer for these questions: 1) Do you know anyone who doesn't like money? 2) How greedy can you or anyone get? 3) How much money is enough for you to be happy? 4) Do you ever think of those who have very little or nothing? 5) How would you feel if you were young and long-term unemployed? Well, you'll have a chance to talk about these things in class. Vocabulary You are going to revise quite a lot of vocabulary this week: money vocabulary, phrasal verbs and money expressions . Do you know the meaning of the following expressions? If not, click and check.   to be in credit , to be well off , to pay the house off You can download this PDF with money vocabulary exercises . Reading Read this BBC article about young people seeking employment and answer these questions: What is the news? What has the report by the Prince's Trust revealed? What is the government doing about it?  What is a neet ?  What is the equival...

The Moorish Bazaar. Rudolf Ernst. Public domain Today we are going to step back in time and travel through time, to the trade route known as the Silk Route. Do you know anything about it? Vocabulary Task 1. Check the meaning of the following words: barter, bazaar, commodities,  goods, gunpowder, spices Task 2 . Click on this link about spices and make a list of at least five spices. What is the Spanish equivalent for each spice? What is the most expensive spice today? The map of the Silk Route Look at the map in your book on page 66 and compare it to this map. Can you locate the cities in your book in this map? Public domain. Wikimedia Commons Click on the cities along the Silk Route map to learn what life is like today in those places. Video clip on the city of Kashgar Watch this video on the BBC page and answer the following questions: Where is Kashgar? What does the reporter say about its past? Why is this city being transformed? What is it be...

Image by Eva Rinaldi. en.wikipedia.org CC BY SA Do you know the man on this photo? Just read the words behind and you'll guess. That's right, it's Baz Luhrmann, the director of The Great Gatsby . This post is about cinema. You will learn vocabulary for talking about and reviewing films. You will also be able to watch an interview with an actor and write a book/film review. Baz Luhrmann How much do you know about this director? What other films has he directed? Where is he from? What awards has he received? Click on this link to find out. Film glossary Do you know the meaning of "blockbuster" or "cameo". How about "props"? This is a sample of the vocabulary that you need to know when talking about films. Visit this Imdb page to learn film-related words. Speaking Think of   a film that you have enjoyed. Make some notes and get ready to talk about it in class. Watch this interview Watch Leonardo DiCaprio talk about...

The Sun by NASA. Public domain What can you see in this picture? What word or words can you use to describe it?  Would you use the word "glowing", dazzling", or perhaps "harsh"? You are going to learn how to describe light in a painting. You will also learn expressions with the word "light".  Task 1. Here you have three famous paintings. Your task is to guess the name of the painting and the painter. Click on the link to check your answers. Picture 1   Picture 2  Picture 3 These are the answers: Picture 1: Jan Vermeer, Kuchenmagd Picture 2: Vincent van Gogh, Terrace of the Café on the Place du Forum in Arles Picture 3: Diego Velázquez, Las Meninas Task 2. Look at the list of adjectives to describe light. Grade them from really bright to not so bright. dim, warm, soft, bright, cold, dazzling, deep, faint, rich, harsh You can click on the Merriam-Webster dictionary to check.

Public domain Are you a cat lover? What animals do you think of when you hear someone say "BIG CATS"? Yes, you are right, there are many different types of big cats and they include, cats, cheetahs, leopards, jaguars, lions, pumas, tigers an other large carnivore and predatory cats. Can you guess the name of the big cat represented in the image on the left? Is it a lynx or is it a bobcat ?  Which species is threatened? Where do they live? If you would like to find out, first click on lynx and then on bobcat . Their habitat (lynx and bobcat) Lynx and bobcat range. Wikimedia   Another big cat Photo by Bas Lammers. CC-BY Do you know the name of this big cat? Where does it live? Click here to find out. The British are well-known for their love of cats. But what kind of big cats can you find in the wild in the UK? Do you think that a lynx or a puma could live in the UK? Read this and draw your own conclusions.  For a long report, read this ...

Gold ingots. Public domain Do you agree that the price of gold always rises in moments of crisis?  Throughout history, gold has symbolised wealth and power. It is an obsession in some cultures. For example India, where more than 50% of the population lives in poverty, still is the world largest consumer of gold. Not only is gold the best gift a husband can give to his future wife, but also the best investment for the future. Watch this video about an Indian man who had a gold shirt made to order. Why would a person buy such a shirt? Extend your vocabulary What is the difference between gold and golden ? Which words collocate with gold and which with golden ? Use an online dictionary.                           age          beach            dream      j...