Monday 26th Wednesday 28th January

Hello girls, how is it going? I hope you're ok enjoying yor free time! And having a look to the pronunciation of the -ed ending of the simple past.

These days we have been working with the past of both regular and irregular verbs. I know I insist a lot but it's very important to pronounce this ending in the right way because if not you're not doing well and sometimes the message we convey is not the same, ok? So try and try and try. It's only practice.

For homework I asked you to translate the text we worked with last class and answer some questions. It's about the story of an in-loved couple in the war times; like a movie! But you did a very good job in class so I think you won't have any problem when translating.

Also we completed many listening activities in order to have a clear idea about continuing a conversation. This is important, too. We have said many times that if someone tells us something, whatever the kind, we can't remain as if nothing happens!  It's a bit rude! So we should give an answer and use some strategies to follow up the conversation with things like these:

• Oh, dear!
• Oh, great!
• What a shame
• Wow!
• You're joking!
• Really?
• Oh, right

So... take this into account, ok, ladies?

Be good, have fun, see you in class!

Bye!

Monday 19th Wednesday 21st January

Hi ladies! How's it going? I hope you're not tired of the past simple although we have worked very hard these days.

Last Monday we were listening to the pronunciation of the -ed ending in order to get a good accent. I know it can be difficult and a bit tiring, but little by little you'll get the right pronuncition without stopping to think.

Also these days we have worked with the biography as a type of writing. I have to say you did very good biographies, interesting info and few mistakes. Let's see next time without writing; I'm talking about your homework, as we said on Wed in class.  Remember you have to prepare a short presentation/speaking about an importat event in the past/history. You have to include these points:

1. Short description of the event
2. People involved
3. Why that event has made history

Try to include:

• Past simple, both regular and irregular
• Past time expressions (ago, since, when, IN with years)
• Connectors (however, on the one hand - on the other hand, although...)

Well, I think that's all this week. Although if you have a little time you could have  look to this video which shows the pronunciation of the -ed ending. Be careful: it's American:

I hope you enjoy!!

Be good, have fun, see you in class!!

Monday 12th Wednesday 14th January

Hello girls! How's it going? I hope you're enjoying a great weekend although the weather is not really nice... You can take advantage of this and relax at home in a warm room doing pleasant things. You'll tell me next day!

These days we have worked with the past simple of both regular and irregular verbs. We had a look to the pronunciation of the -ed ending. Don't worry about it, it seems difficult but it isn't. I must insist on this because, as you know, you can say things right but you really don't care sometimes. Ladies, make a little effort and you'll see this is not so bad, ok? Please, do it.

We practised listening activities related to this topic, too. I found this listening about Mandela's life very interesting. Remember this is your task for next Monday, write a short bio about someone important or interesting in your opinion who did something important. As I told you, the structure of a bio normally comes this way:

- 1st paragraph: early life, childhood
- 2nd paragraph: things done in life which made him/her become famous (the importance of this)
- 3rd paragraph: late years and last things done.

I'm sure your writing will be really interesting. Remember to use past time expressions, at least the few we saw in class last Wed., ok?

Be good, have fun, see you in class!

Bye

Wednesday 7th January

Hello girls! First of all: Happy New Year!! and welcome to the second term of our course.

Last class we introduced the past simple and we explained the differences between English and Spanish use of the past. Remember that we said that the use is mainly as in Spanish, so the more you think in English the better you will understand, right?

Anyway here you have this little chart which focuses on the three forms of the verb to be. Last class we were working with this, especially with some listening and speaking activities. We will continue with this topic, and we will paid especial attention to the pronunciation of the regular verbs, those which end in -ed.

Just to finish today remember to do your homework: you have to write a couple of paragraphs talking about your best birthday, just as we saw in class, ok?

Right. So that's all today.

Be good, have fun, see you in class!

Bye