Entry Test and Grammar 1A

Entry Test

Grammatical and Lexical Test

Grammar 1A

Welcome

Welcome to the new course 2013/2014

Congratulations!!!!!

Congratulations !!!!!

I wish everybody would have a good summer!!!

Composición y Desarrollo de las P.U.C. (Nivel Intermedio - Grupos C y D)

Convocatorias

Hay 2 convocatorias por curso, una ordinaria (en junio) y otra extraordinaria (en septiembre).

Ejercicios

Las pruebas constan de 4 ejercicios:

• Ejercicio de Comprensión de lectura.
• Ejercicio de Comprensión oral.
• Ejercicio de Expresión e interacción escrita.
• Ejercicio de Expresión e interacción oral.

Tareas

Cada ejercicio se compone de 2 tareas cada uno.

[+] Ver más

Sesiones

Las pruebas de certificación se realizarán en 2 sesiones, siendo la última de las cuales la que se compone del ejercicio de expresión e interacción oral.

· La primera sesión será el 3 de junio a las 16:00 en el aula C-4 para los grupos NI-C y NI-D.

· La segunda sesión se realizará los días 6 de junio (de 18:45 a 21:00) y 10 de junio (de 16:00 a 17:30), póngase en contacto con su tutor para elegir hora y compañero (para el grupo NI-D).

Formato

Desarrollo

El desarrollo de las pruebas será como sigue:

(El alumnado deberá estar presente 15 minutos antes de la prueba debidamente identificado.)

(Tras 15 minutos del comienzo de cualquiera de las pruebas no se permitirá el acceso al aula.)

Sesión 1 (Ejercicios de Comprensión de lectura, oral y Expresión e interacción escrita).

1. Plazo de 30 minutos para el llamamiento e identificación de las personas candidatas.
2. Comienzo del ejercicio de comprensión de lectura
3. Una vez finalizado el ejercicio de comprensión de lectura habrá una pausa de 5 minutos.
4. Comienzo del ejercicio de comprensión oral.
5. Se dedicarán 15 minutos para explicaciones sobre el ejercicio de comprensión oral.
6. 15 minutos de descanso de libre disposición para los aspirantes.
7. Comienzo del ejercicio de expresión e interacción escrita.

Sesión 2 (Ejercicio de Expresión e interacción oral)

La segunda sesión consta de dos tareas, que se describen a continuación:

     

     Tarea 1

• Formato: Monólogo (exposición de un tema o descripción basada en soporte gráfico).
• Procedimiento: exposición oral de cada persona siguiendo las instrucciones del material impreso.
• Duración: De 3 a 4 minutos por persona candidata.
• Puntuación máxima: 100 puntos por cada corrector/a.

     Tarea 2

• Formato: Diálogo interactivo (responder y hacer preguntas, entrevistas, debates, diálogos sobre situaciones dadas).
• Procedimiento: resolución de la tarea mediante el intercambio conversacional.
• Duración: De 4 a 5 minutos por pareja o de 4 a 7 minutos por trío.
• Puntuación máxima: 100 puntos por cada corrector/a.

(El tiempo máximo de actuación será de otros 15 minutos para cada pareja o 20 minutos por trío.)

(La puntuación total del ejercicio será de 400 puntos (100 puntos x 2 tareas x 2 correctores/as).

El desarrollo de la prueba será como sigue:

1. A la hora en que cada pareja/trío haya sido convocado uno de los miembros del equipo examinador los llamará.

(Las personas candidatas serán convocadas en parejas o tríos, en caso de número impar.)

2. Los situará en el lugar destinado para la preparación, facilitará las tareas a realizar junto la hoja de instrucciones generales y papel sellado para anotaciones si lo considera necesario, además de instrucciones orales pertinentes.

(El tiempo máximo de preparación de las dos tareas de 15 minutos simultáneos para cada persona. (Durante este tiempo se facilitará papel sellado para anotaciones y no se podrá comunicar la pareja entre sí ni con el equipo examinador).

3. Una vez finalizado el tiempo de preparación serán llamados al lugar donde deben actuar y tras intercambiar unas mínimas frases de bienvenida e instrucciones en el idioma, comenzará el desarrollo del ejercicio, en el orden siguiente:

• Primero: La persona candidata A realiza su exposición oral (ajustándose al tiempo previsto de 3 a 4 minutos).

• Segundo: La persona candidata B realiza su exposición oral (ajustándose al tiempo previsto de 3 a 4 minutos).

• Tercero: persona candidata A y persona candidata B (y en su caso la C) realizarán la tarea 2, que consiste en la interacción Oral, debiendo ajustarse al tiempo previsto y no superándolo (4-5 minutos por pareja y 4-7 minutos por trío).

4. Una vez finalizado el tiempo de actuación, la pareja o trío de personas candidatas deberá abandonar el aula.

Notas

• Este resumen es un extracto de la guía del candidato a las P.U.C.
• Recomiendo consultar la guía del candidato a las P.U.C. y sobre todo el apartado 11 dedicado a las INSTRUCCIONES Y RECOMENDACIONES.
• Ante cualquier cambio que pudiera plantearse, el calendario de las pruebas puede ser consultado en éste enlace.

Sample Letters

Isabel Blanco, our classmate, has shared these sample letters with all of us.

(Tip: Do click on the picture)

Thanks a lot Isabel 

Song - Ironic

Here is the song that we have listened today, its name is "Ironic" and was written and first recorded by the Canadian singer Alanis Morissette.

Try to fill the gaps on this incomplete script.

Writing about "Mobile phones - a great invention?"

Write an article called Mobile phones - a great invention?

Song - Holding out for a hero

Here is the song that we have listened today, its name is "Holding out for a hero".

Try to fill the gaps on this incomplete script.

Causative have

Advanced Level (1st)

You can practise with the following exercises:

• Exercise 1
• Exercise 2
• Exercise 3
• Exercise 4
• Exercise 5

Writing about a film review

Try to write a film review about a film you would recommend people to buy on DVD.

Relative clauses and pronouns

Here you are several videos talking about relative clauses:

• How do you use 'Relative Clauses' in the English language?

• Reduced relative clauses

Reported speech backshift

Saint George's Day

Saint George's Day is the feast day of Saint George. It is celebrated by various Christian churches and by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. 

Saint George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303.

Phrasal verbs

Here you can find a simple list of phrasal verbs for students who are in a hurry to learn just a few basic verbs, and here you can practise it.

Here you have another useful phrasal verbs list.

Reported Speech

Gerunds and Infinitives

Expressions of Quantity

Reported/Indirect speech

Reported speech is the form we use to speak about what others tell us. Think about your day with other friends, co-workers and family. It's quite common to tell others what someone else has told you.

Intro	Reference words	Changing verbs

April Fools' Day

April Fools' Day is celebrated in many countries on April 1 every year. Sometimes referred to as All Fools' Day, April 1 is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day when people play practical jokes and hoaxes on each other called April fools.

In Italy, France and Belgium, children and adults traditionally tack paper fishes on each other's back as a trick and shout "April fish!" in their local languages (pesce d'aprile!, poisson d'avril! and aprilvis! in Italian, French and Flemish, respectively). Such fish feature prominently on many late 19th to early 20th century French April Fools' Day postcards.

Here you can read about some jokes made on April Fools' Day

source: Wikipedia

images: Google Image's Seeker

     

Writing about "CV and applying for a job"

Try to write your CV and a covering letter to apply for a job.

Song - "Sk8er Boi"

Here is the song that I invited you to listen to during this Easter, its name is "Sk8er Boi"

And try to fill the gaps on this incomplete script.

Saint Patrick's Day (March 17th)

Saint Patrick's Day, March 17, is an annual celebration of the patron saint of Ireland. It is a national holiday in Ireland, and millions of Irish people all over the world where there are Irish communities celebrate.

This is the activity that we did in class about Saint Patrick's Day.

(source: http://eslholidaylessons.com/03/saint_patricks_day.html)

Listening - Joshua Jones and cystic fibrosis

Joshua Jones and cystic fibrosis

Joshua Jones was born with cystic fibrosis, a serious illness which can make it hard for some sufferers to lead a normal life. But Joshua has not allowed his condition to get in the way of all the things he wants to do. In fact, he has done all sorts of amazing things that most of us would never dream of doing!

You can download here the script.

Listening - National Gallery in London

National Gallery in London

Charles Saumarez-Smith is the director of the National Gallery in London. The gallery is home to one of the greatest collections of Western European paintings in the world.

You can download here the script.

Reading - Informal Letter

Hi Leo,

It's been a while since we wrote, so I thought I'd drop you a line to bring you up to date with what's been happening here.

I suppose the most important thing is that Jane's job is more secure than we thought. At the beginning of the year, when she got the job, we thought it might only be for one semester, but we just found that she has a permanent contract of sorts. Obviously this is great, as it means we can relax a little. I still don't have what I really want work wise, but it will happen soon. You have to stay positive, don't you?

My parents are both fine, and I think they are really happy that we've moved back. For us, it's great to be so close to family again, an extra sense of comfort and security. We see my sister quite often as she's in London, although we're not that bothered about going into the city.

So, what about you these days? Are you still stuck in that old job? Since I've been having so much trouble getting a job I understand your reluctance to change. There's nothing worse than filling in endless application forms, with no idea of what it will lead to.

Anyway, I've got another form to fill in so I'll love you and leave you.

Regards,

John

Writing about "describing your house or flat"

It would be interesting make a description about your real or imaginary house or flat.

Try to do it at home.

Reading Book - Cinderella Man

In the second term, I decided to read a book named "Cinderella Man" that tells the true story of an American boxing legend, James J. Braddock who fights against poverty and obscurity as hard as he does against his sporting opponents.

International Women's Day

One day, celebrate it will NOT be necessary, then we will be equals.

Grammar - "Usually" and "Used to"

We use frequency adverb "usually" and the verb "used to" to reference to an habit or a daily routine (actual or past).

• Usually, is used in the present (I usually...).
• Used to, is used to reference actions ended in the past (I used to...).

Next, we are going to see how they are grammatically used in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.

*Take care using "used to" in negative and interrogative sentences.

USE OF "USUALLY" & "USED TO"

1. Use of “Usually” in afirmative, negative and interrogative sentences

• Affirmative: I usually read at leat 3 hours a day.
• Negative: She doesn’t usually go out during the week.
• Interrogative: Does he usually do exercise?

2. Use of “Used to” in afirmative, negative and interrogative sentences

• Affirmative: I used to play basketaball when I was a teen.
• Negative: She didn’t use to drink when she was at university 18.
• Interrogative: Did you use to play the piano.

*NOTE: Have you ever seen written "didn't used to" or "Did you used to"?
It is possible, indeed in American English Language "used to" form is used in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences. However, this is not usual in British English Language.

(Source)

Vocabulary "Friendship"

Some vocabulary about "friendship":

• argue - discutir.
• close friend - amigos íntimos.
• colleage - compañero.
• get on very well - llevarse bien.
• have a lot in common - tener mucho en común.
• keep in touch - mantener el contacto.
• known - conocido.
• lost touch - perder contacto.
• meet - conocerse.

Typical questions in dialogues:

• How long have you known him/her?
• Where did you meet?
• Why do you get on well?
• What do you have in common?
• Do you ever argue? What about?
• How often do you see each other?
• How do you keep in touch the rest of the time?
• Have you ever lost touch? Why? When?
• Do you think you'll stay friends?

Here is a website which helps you to find out friends and lets you read what people you've lost touch with are doing now (Friends reunited).

Song "Our house"

Here is the song we have listened to today, its name is "Our house" and it was the British group Madness's biggest international hit.

And now, here you have the mp3 song to help you fill the gaps.

Solution: 1.ʎɐpunS 2.pǝɹıT 3.sɹıɐʇsuʍoD 4.ɹǝɥʇoɹB 5.sʎɐʍlA 6.ɯnM 7.ǝʇɐL 8.ʇɹıɥS 9.looɥɔS 10.ʎddɐH

Vocabulary - Houses

Here you have vocabulary about houses, first you have vocabulary about sorts of houses, and after, vocabulary about objects you can find in anyone's house ...

The House

• The House• The Garden/The Yard• Indoors• The Den• The Dining Room• The Kitchen• The Kitchen II• The Bedroom• The Bathroom• The Bathroom 2• The Utility Room

And here are another words to remember:

• airy - espacioso, aireado, ventilado
• area - zona, area.
• bother(to) - molestar.
• bothered - incomodo. molesto, enfadado, enojado.
• by the sea - cerca del mar.
• on the coast - en la costa.
• countryside - campo.
• domer / garret - buhardilla.
• domer window - ventana de buhardilla.
• golden - dorado.
• hi-tech flat - pisos que contienen elementos de alta tecnología (p.e. domótica).
• penthouse - ático.
• to run out of st - quedarse sin algo (p.e. run out of food).
• wooden - de madera.

And here you can find more interesting vocabulary.

Describing my room

Another video about describing, this time he is describing his room.

Describing my house

Describing my house - NB1 Elementary - EOI Getafe

Mercedes describes her house. Her English is very fluent!

Thanks for sharing! 

English at EOI Getafe

Practising the conditional forms

Today we have been practising the conditional forms, try to answer this questions:

"If you could live in another period of time for its fashion, when would you choose and why?"

"If you could come back in another life, who (or what) would you like to be?"

"If you could change one part of your body, what would it be?"

"What would you wear if you were invited on a date by someone you really liked?"

And we have revised the grammar bank on page 136 and vocabulary bank on page 151.

People talking about different topics

In TED Ideas worth spreading you have an incredible site where listen to 

people talking about different topics.

You can select subtitle's language and you can also select the talk you want 

filtering, for example, by topic or length. It's amazing!!

List of links for learning English on the Internet

In the following link you will find an useful and complete list of links for learning English on the Internet.

We haven't tested all of the links so some of them might be broke but, 
is sure that the site where you are in will be interesting.

Steady job/ Steady phone (Vocabulary)

"Lo único que tengo ahora es un trabajo estable"

steady job - trabajo estable

---

steady phone - teléfono fijo

Time clauses

(Here you can find some exercises)

Conditional forms and exercises

We have learnt the conditional forms:

Type 0. If + Present tense + Present tense i.e.: 

• If I press the button, the bell rings. / The bell rings if I press the button.
• Si pulso el botón el timbre suena.

Type 1. If + Present tense + Future tense i.e.: 

• If you study, you will pass your exam.
• Si estudias pasarás tú examen.

Type 2. If + Past simple tense + Conditional simple i.e.: 

• If you studied, you would pass your exam.
• Si estudiaras pasarías tú examen.

Type 3. If + Past perfect + Perfect infinitive i.e.: 

• If you had studied, you would have passed your exam.
• Si hubieras estudiado habrías pasado tú examen.

Besides, you will be able to know more about this topic in the following links and have to do the exercises related to it at home:

• Unit 38. If I do ... and If I did ...
• Unit 39. If I knew ... I wish I knew.
• Unit 40. If I had known... I wish I had known ...

We haven't to know anything about "I wish I knew" form so you don't need to study nothing about the part of this unit related to it.

Other ways to certificate your English level

Some people don't know that they can get English certifications by other ways so I have written this information for them.

This is a table of equivalences between English level and certifications you can get:

CEFR:  Common European  Framework of Reference	EOI: Escuela Oficial de Idiomas	Certificados Cambridge y British Council
C2		CPE
C1		CAE
B2	Nivel Avanzado  (5º)	FCE
B1	Nivel Intermedio (3º)	PET

Moreover, you can get information related to Cambridge English exams in the links below:

• KET (Key English Test) - (English version)
• PET (Preliminary English Test) - (English version)
• FCE (First Certificate in English) - (English version)
• CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) - (English version)
• CPE (Certificate of Proeficiency in English) - (English version)

By the way, here you can obtain a table of equivalences made by U.H.U. and, if you have any doubt you can navigate throw this link to get more information about this topic.

I really hope that this information will be useful for some of us.

Exercise about writing informal letters

Today, We have done a exercise about writing an informal letter, you can download it on the link below:

Here is some vocabulary about the text:

• secluded  /sɪˈkluːdɪd/ - apartado.
• greenery /ˈgriːnərɪ/ - vegetación.
• marshmallows /ˈmɑːʃˈmæləʊ/ - merengue, nube, malvavisco.
• hilarious /hɪˈlɛərɪəs/ - divertidísimo.
• boast /bəʊst/ - presumir.

Free English UNED courses

They are available a couple of free courses relative to English Language 

at 's online platform:

• Aprende las mil palabras más usadas y sus posibilidades comunicativas. (Begginer level)
• Inglés Profesional / Professional English. (Suggested B1 level)

I think It would be good for us and so I publish it here.

Vocabulary about Education

Homework

Today we have been talking about topics related to Education (N.E.F. on page 52 - Back to school, aged 35), and in the following link you will find homeworks for next day:

Revising modal verbs

Homework

Exercises for revise modal verbs:

· Must, have to, should
· Must, may, might, can't
· Can, could, be able to