"Across the pond"

Do you remember the man in the photo? As youwere told in the introduction, this is T om, a manfrom Boston who is going to experience someadventures during his gap year in Great Britain andIreland.

Tom is a man who has finished his studies in Biologyand wants to travel to the islands of his ancestorsbefore starting his working life in the USA. He wantsto visit the ancient, historical and most famous citiesof Great Britain and Ireland. But before decidingwhere to go, Tom has made a survey about whichkinds of places he would like the most. Try to do thequiz he has already done.

Imagen de baslow en Flickr bajo licencia CC

Which UK city are you?

The United Kingdom has been one of the top study abroad destinations and it's not hard to seewhy. The UK has given us David Beckham, the Beatles, Dr. Who, Adele, Harry Potter, haggis, theRoyal Family, and a pretty fabulous set of Olympics in 2012. It's amazing how much goodness canbe packed onto a few rainy islands floating about in the North Atlantic.

The problem you are now faced with is where to study on those rainy islands floating about in theNorth Atlantic. Your variety of options may seem more like a curse than a blessing at this point.Should I go to England? Perhaps Cambridge. No, no, I want to go to Scotland. The highlands arecalling me. Wait! I've heard nothing but amazing things about Wales and Northern Ireland seemsgreat! Fear not, this simple quiz can help you start narrowing down those options to find the UKprogram that is just the right fit for you.

1. Of these four options, which is the best description of you?

Chameleon: I can adapt to any situation and I love experiencing all kinds of different things. Workhard, play hard: I'm a serious student, but not so much that I can't have fun at weekends! Happyin my own little world: I like snuggling up to a good read, really getting to know my slice of theworld and meeting up with my friends. I also have this pre-occupation with golf... Lovable and yetmisunderstood: Everyone who knows me knows I'm laid back, fun, and perhaps a little different. Imay be a little rough around the edges, but doesn't that make me quirky and cool?

2. Which UK citizen, alive or dead, would you like to meet?

Prince Harry! I was born to be royalty. J.R.R. Tolkien. An inspiration writer and wonderful thinker.Alistair Moffat. Current Rector (chancellor) of St. Andrews, former director of the Edinburgh FestivalFringe and Director of Programmes at Scottish Television. What a cool dude! Thomas Andrews.

Chief Naval Architect of the RMS Titanic. Hear me out, the man was a genius architect in his timeand saved a lot of lives on board by ensuring as many people got into the lifeboats as possible. Heeven went down with the ship.

3. What do you picture yourself doing on a Friday night in the UK?

So many places! At a pub with a drink, or maybe a concert, a club, who knows? Can't I doeverything? At a pub discussing an interesting topic I learned about in class or heading out to agreat theme party. Head out to the pub and see what's going on. I'll probably see someone I knowon the way or see someone at the pub and they can tell me what's on in town. Catching somegood music or seeing some art. The more unique the better!

4. If you were food, what would you be?

A curry dinner. Spicy, flavorful, delicious. Traditional English breakfast: egg, sausage, beans andtomatoes. Can't go wrong with tradition. Haggis! Minced sheep hearts, livers, lungs and other stuffall rolled into one. How is that not intriguing? Yellow man: a yellow (thus the name) sweet thatlooks like honeycomb. Sweet and different.

5. When you pop into a pub, what do you like to do?

Is there music? Is there dancing? Is it traditional? Is it trendy? Doesn't matter, I'll always have agood time! Write, theorize or study. My mental juices always start flowing when I have half a pintin me. Sit and chat. I like being in a nice cozy place with lots of different kinds of people. Is thatgolf match on today? I like to soak up my surroundings and appreciate the awesomeness aroundme. Every bar's got something going for it and I like to figure that out with a cold pint in my hand.

Source: http://www.gooverseas.com/blog/quiz-study-abroad-uk

Now calculating your super-scientific quiz results....

Mostly As: Your UK City is London! As the vibrant capital of England, it is home to Big Ben, TheClash, tons of museums and the Royal Family. If you've dreamed of seeing the changing of theguard, walking through Westminster Abbey or having a Facebook profile picture with Tower Bridgein the background, this place is for you. The great thing about London is that you can do so manydifferent things there. You can check out a concert in the O2, get delicious curry on Brick Lane, goclubbing in Soho or wander around the common lands of Hampstead Heath. There's something foreveryone in London. Check out the CAPA London Program or the GlobaLinks Program with KingstonUniversity.

Mostly Bs: Your UK City is Oxford! Oxford is, of course, most well-known for Oxford University,which is comprised of 38 colleges. The university has attracted great minds like J.R.R. Tolkien,Harper Lee, C.S. Lewis and Rachel Maddow. Oxford is a university rooted in tradition and fiercepride for one's college. Don't be surprised how much school spirit the students have there (andmake sure you don't walk on the grass!). Students here study hard, but are also known to throwgreat parties and enjoy a drink or two at the many pubs in town. So cheer for your college's crewteam, have a pint in The Eagle and Child, wander around the Port Meadows outside of town, thinkdeep thoughts. If Oxford seems like your gig look into the Aspire by API program.

Mostly Cs: Your UK City is St. Andrews! The city of St. Andrews in Scotland is most well-known forits famous golf course, although it has enjoyed some fame as W ill and Kate's alma mater. Just ashort hop from Edinburgh, St. Andrew's University is known for diversity, so you'll meet plenty ofpeople from around the world during your stay there. As a small town, you'll soon be able torecognize passersby on the street. After brushing up on your studies, you can enjoy the beauty ofthe Scotland on the Fife Coastal Path or check out St. Andrews Castle. St. Andrews will be a greathome away from home for you. Scotland-bound students, be sure to take a look at the USACProgram!

Mostly Ds: Your UK City is Belfast! Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, and while itpreviously faced a great deal of adversity during 'the troubles', it is now a safe, wonderful city withgreat study abroad opportunities. Belfast is easy to see on foot, so feel free to wonder slowly andreally soak up the city. Check out the Falls Road Republican Murals created during the tumult in the1980s. Wander over to the Titanic Quarter where the infamous RMS Titanic was built. If you take achance on this sometimes misunderstood, but beautiful city, it won't let you down. Try the CIEEPeace + Conflict Program or the ISA Belfast Program.

Source: http://www.gooverseas.com/blog/quiz-study-abroad-uk

Actividad desplegable

1. curse a. something that provides happiness ordoes good for a person or thing

2. blessing b. a source of harm or misfortune

3. laid back c. being in the latest or current fashion

4. looks like d. providing or enjoying physical comfort

5. dude e. devote (oneself) fully to; take in, alsometaphorically

6. lifeboat f. to find an answer for something throughreasoning

7. trendy g. an adult male human being

8. cozy h. bear a physical resemblance to someoneor something

9. soak up i. having a relaxed, casual manner

10. figuresomething out

j. a strong sea boat designed to rescuepeople from a sinking ship

Comprobar respuesta Mostrar retroalimentación

Match the following words to their definitions. You can check your answers below.

Pulse aquí

Now, work in pairs and give your opinion about your quiz results.

Reflexión

Reflexión

1. Tom's family

Pulse aquí

Imagen de tornintwo2011 en Flickr bajo licencia CC

What does "Across the pond" mean?

Imagen de Ted Sakshaug en Flickr bajo licencia CC

As you already know Tom, now it's time to meet some of his relatives. Read the following descriptionthat Tom gives of his family.

My family has 5 members. My sister, my brother, my parents and I, of course. My mother is 46 years old. Her name's Anna. She's thin-faced and she's got short, blondhair and beautiful green eyes. She's rather slim because she is always trying to stay inshape. She follows a sensible diet and does regular exercise. She's very good-looking,always well-dressed and elegant. She's quite easy-going and warm-hearted - until I dosomething wrong - then she can be strict.My father, Leszek, is 7 years older than my mother. He's 53. In spite of his age, he's still

Actividad de lectura

Pulse aquí

My father, Leszek, is 7 years older than my mother. He's 53. In spite of his age, he's stillblack-haired, maybe with several grey hairs. He's got bright blue eyes. He's quite tall, buta bit shorter than me or my brother and his stomach is rather big because of beer. He'svery hard-working. Apart from working in a man's fashion company, he also doeshousework. He says that there is always something to do. He even makes dinner whenmother is outside. However, he likes cooking and his meals are always very tasty. Mymother's are tasty, too, of course.Next is my parents' oldest son. My brother's name's Thomas. He's 25 and he's 5 yearsolder than me. He's tall and rather slim. He's a red-haired boy with green eyes. He'salways well-dressed because he likes to buy nice clothes. Sometimes when I steal hisshirt he goes mad. He's generally easy-going, but very sharp, brainy and able. He wasstudying German before and now he's working in his own catering company.Finally, my sister Natalia. She's 22. She's also red-haired and green-eyed. She's got longwavy hair and freckles. She's definitely shorter than my brother and I. She's ratherintroverted. I guess she's a little too sensitive and worried. But she's very sensible, smartand co-operative. She's learning a lot and always helps at home. She's studying Englishand also knows German and French. I want to be as smart as she is.

Adapted from: http://lang-8.com/81284/journals/362336

Now that you know Tom's family , write in your notebook all the words used to describe his relatives'character and appearance. After doing this, click below to check your answer.

Pulse aquí

One day after Tom finished his studies at university, his mother told him the secret of their family: Theirancestors came from the other side of the Atlantic. Anna presented him with a family photo showing themembers of their family. Work in pairs and try to guess who's who in the photo below.

Imagen de Kim Scarborough en Flickr bajo licencia CC

Reflexión

Your family tree

Your closest relatives are your : your mother and father; and your

(brothers or sisters). If your mother or father is not an only child,

you also have and / or . An aunt is the sister of your motheror father, while an uncle is the brother of your mother or father. Your female child iscalled your , and your child is your son.

If your aunts or uncles have children, they are your first . (In English,the word cousin is used, whether the cousin is female or male) Your female cousinis your mother (or father's) , while a male cousin is the ofyour mother and father.

In-laws

When you marry, your husband (or wife's) family become your . The

mother of your spouse (husband or wife) is your and his or

her father becomes your . The term in-law is also used todescribe your relationship with the spouses of your siblings. So the husband of yoursister becomes your , while the sister of your husband

becomes your . If you are a woman, you become the

of your husband's parents, and if you are a man, you

become the of your wife's parents. The same term in-law isused for all generations. The husband of your aunt is still your mother's brother-in-law, for example.

Grandparents / grandchildren

The parents of your parents are your – grandmother and

grandfather. You are their – either a granddaughter or a

grandson. If your grandparent has a sister, she is your . If your

grandparent has a brother, he is your . (And you are either hisor her great-niece or great-nephew).

The mother of your grandmother or grandfather is your . The father is your great-grandfather. If you go

back another generation, the grandmother of your grandmother / grandfather is yourgreat-great-grandmother. The grandfather of your grandparents becomes your great-great-grandfather.

Second families

If your mother or father remarries, you can acquire a new family and set of relatives.

Read the text about the family tree and fill in the gaps with the following words. There are two wordsyou don't need to use.

parents - male - daughter - uncles - aunts - siblings - niece -nephew - cousins -

in-laws - brother-in-law - father-in-law - mother-in-law -grandparents - great-uncle -

grandchildren - daughter-in-law - great-aunt - sister-in-law - great-grandmother -

son-in-law - step-mother - biological - half-sisters - step-sisters -relatives - grandson

Rellenar huecos

For example, if your father marries a second wife, she becomes your . Any children she already has become your

or step-brothers.

If your mother or father remarries and has children, they become your half-brothersor .

You might also hear people talking about their brother / sisteretc, to mean a brother who is related by blood, rather than by marriage.

Source: http://www.english-at-home.com/vocabulary/talking-about-your-family/

Averiguar la puntuación Mostrar/Ocultar retroalimentación Mostrar/Ocultar las respuestas

Watch the video below about describing people in real situations.

Pulse aquí

After watching the video above, make notes of the adjectives used to describe people and givesynonyms and antonyms for these ones:

energetic, easy-going, handsome, compatible, ravishing, sexy, practical, kind,considerate, embarrassing, calm, cute, hard-working, artsy, determined, cool

The following positive and negative Personality Adjectives are in common use in the English language:

Actividad de lectura

POSITIVE PERSONALITY ADJECTIVES NEGATIVE PERSONALITY ADJECTIVESA - E E - J J - R R - Z A - D D - H I - S S -W

adaptableadorableagreeablealertalluringambitiousamusedboundlessbravebrightcalmcapablecharmingcheerfulcoherentcomfortableconfidentcooperativecourageouscrediblecultureddashingdazzlingdebonairdecisivedecorousdelightfuldetaileddetermineddiligentdiscreetdynamic eager endurable

efficientelatedeminentenchantingencouragingenergeticentertainingenthusiasticexcellentexcitedexclusiveexuberantfabulousfairfaithfulfantasticfearlessfinefrankfriendlyfunnygenerousgentlegloriousgoodhappyharmonioushelpfulhilarioushonorableimpartialindustriousinstinctive jolly

joyousluckykindkind-heartedknowledgeablelevellikeablelivelylovelylovingmaturemodernniceobedientpainstakingpeacefulperfectplacidplausiblepleasantpluckyproductiveprotectiveproudpunctualquietreceptivereflectiverelievedresoluteresponsiblerhetoricalrighteous

romanticseemly selectiveself-assuredsensitiveshrewdsincereskilfulsuccessfulsmilingsplendidsteadfaststimulatingsuccincttalentedthoughtfulthriftytoughtrustworthyunbiasedunusualupbeatvigorousvivaciouswarmwillingwisewittywonderfulzanyzealous

abrasiveabruptabusiveafraidaloofambiguousangryannoyedanxiousarrogantashamedawfulbadbelligerentbewilderedboorishboredboringcallouscarelessclumsycombativeconfusedcowardlycrazycreepycruelcynicaldangerousdeceitfuldefeateddefectivedefiantdemonicdepressedderanged

disagreeabledisillusioneddisturbeddomineeringdraconianembarrassedenviouserraticevasiveevilfadedfanaticalfiercefilthyfinickyflashyflippantfoolishforgetfulfranticfretfulfrightenedfurtivegreedygrievinggrouchygruesomegrumpyguardedgulliblehelplesshesitanthomelesshorriblehungry

ignorantillirresolutejealousjitterylackinglazylonelymaliciousmaterialisticmeanmysteriousnaivenastynaughtynervousnoisyobnoxiousoutrageouspanickypatheticpossessivequarrelsomerepulsiveruthlesssadscarysecretiveselfishsillyslowsneakysnobbishsorespendthriftsqueamish

stingystrangesulkytackytenseterribletestythick-skinnedthoughtlessthreateningtighttimidtiredtiresometroubledtruculenttypicalundesirableunsuitableunsureupsetuptightvaguevengefulvenomousvolatilevoraciousvulgarwarywastefulweakwearywickedworriedworthlesswretched

These adjectives are common to talk about people’s appearance:

ADJECTIVES FOR PEOPLE'S APPEARANCE

adorableadventurousaggressivealertattractiveaveragebeautifulblue-eyedbloodyblushingbrightclean

clearcloudycolorfulcrowdedcutedarkdrabdistinctdullelegantexcitedfancyfilthy

glamorousgleaminggorgeousgracefulgrotesquehandsomehomelylightlongmagnificentmistymotionlessmuddyold-fashioned

plainpoisedpreciousquaintshinysmoggysparklingspotlessstormystrangeuglyugliestunsightlyunusualwide-eyed

For adjectives which describe physical features, you can have a look at the following webpage:http://www.iluenglish.com/describing-people-a-persons-physical-appearance/

Describe yourself using the adjectives you have learnt above. You can record your monologue andsend it to your partner and you can also listen to your partner's monologue. This task will last between 3 and4 minutes at the most.

Para saber más

2. Tom's decision to take a gap year

Remember that, when describing someone's physical appearance or character, we must bear in mind a fewwords concerning physical description and personality. We have to differentiate between "to look", "to looklike" and "to be like" . When do we use each of them?

1. Look + adjective : We use the verb "to look" followed by an adjective when asking aboutphysical appearance. For example: She looks younger than me. This cake looks delicious, but it'shorrible.2. Look like + noun : We use the verb "to look like" followed by a noun when asking about physicalappearance, too. For example: What's that building? It looks like a factory. What do you look like?(Cómo eres?) I am tall and thin. / I am short and fat.3. We use the verb "to be like" when asking about personality. For example: What are you like? I ama shy person / I'm an extrovert person.

Now, click here to do an exercise about look and look like .

Tom is a very curious person and he wanted to know how much he knew about Ireland, so he did a quiz to check. Do thequiz that Tom once did.

Imagen de minniemouseaunt en Flickr bajo licencia CC

It's not difficult to see why Ireland is a prime travel destination. With millions of people around the world identifying as Irish, it'snot uncommon to travel here with the intent of researching one's roots. However, there are many more reasons to visit Irelandbesides a genealogical expedition!

With an amazing sense of hospitality and a breath-taking landscape (the "forty shades of green" cliche is absolutely true!), it'seasy to constantly be in awe while visiting. Ireland has plenty to see and do, whether you're in pursuit of a trip based on thecountry's natural beauty or historic landmarks.

Ireland has a rich history and culture, with some surprising facts. Is the "luck of the Irish" with you? Try it out by taking thisquiz and receiving your whirlwind introduction to Ireland trivia. Then, be sure to check out the variety of ways you can travelto Ireland, from study to work to volunteer!

Source: http://www.gooverseas.com/quiz/test-your-ireland-knowledge

1. What is the official symbol of Ireland?

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Cuestionario SCORM

Harp

Shamrock

Guinness

Fiddle

2. Which colour traditionally represents Ireland?

Green

Purple

Blue

Orange

3. Dublin is the Anglicized version of the word "Dubh Linn". What does this name mean?

Black Pool

Wading Pool

Red Meadow

Evergreen

4. What are Ireland's two national sports?

Football and Rugby

Gaelic Football and Hurling

Jousting and Hurling

Rugby and Gaelic Football

5. The size of the island of Ireland is roughly the equivalent to which US state?

Wisconsin

Virginia

ENVIAR RESPUESTAS

New York

Maine

6. Which country can claim that nearly half of its population is of Irish descent?

Australia

England

United States

New Zealand

7. About how many pints of beers are drunk in Ireland each year?

327 million

595 million

694 million

892 million

8. How many castles are in Ireland?

260

175

340

450

9. True or False: The tricolor flag represents peace between the Republic of Ireland and NorthernIreland.

True

False

Mostrar retroalimentación

After doing the test, you can see the correct answers below.

Did you know the origin of the term "gap year" and its philosophy? Click here to learn more about it.You can also watch the following video for more information about the advantages of taking a gap year:

Speaker 1: "There are now more than different gap year in the country

offering anything from t o

and projects"

Speaker 2: "...about take gap years"

Speaker 4: "A gap year can be a very good for many students"

Speaker 5: "Students who take a gap year tend to be more when they start the

"

The following statements have been taken from the above video about "gap year". Fill in the blanks withthe words you hear:

Caso práctico

Curiosidad

Rellenar huecos

3. Discovering Ireland

Speaker 6: "I've taken a gap year going to and working as a "

"It helps obviously to improve my and I had an amazing "

Averiguar la puntuación Mostrar/Ocultar retroalimentación Mostrar/Ocultar las respuestas

On a rainy day, Tom was at home reading a book by Mark Twain and there was something that made him think about goingoverseas. He read the speech that Mark Twain once brilliantly said, "we regret the things we DON’T do more than the thingswe do" . Thus, he decided to go to the land of his ancestors and take a year off there. His first stop is in Ireland. His motheronce told him that their ancestors emigrated from Ireland to the USA many decades ago.

Look at the picture below and try to guess where Tom is.

Imagen de William Murphy en Flickr bajo licencia CC

This photograph has been taken in Howth. Howth is located on the peninsula of Howth Head, which begins around 13 kilometres(8.1 mi) east-north-east of Dublin, on the north side of Dublin Bay. The village itself is located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) fromDublin city centre (the ninth of a series of eighteenth century milestones from the Dublin General Post Office (GPO) is in thevillage itself), and spans most of the northern part of Howth Head, which is connected to the rest of Dublin via a narrow stripof land (or tombolo) at Sutton Cross.Howth is at the end of a regional road from Dublin and is one of the northern termini of the DART suburban rail system.

Howth Head is one of the dominant features of Dublin Bay, with a number of peaks, the highest of which is Black Linn. In onearea, near Shielmartin, there is a small peat bog, the Bog of the Frogs. The wilder parts of Howth can be accessed by anetwork of paths (many are rights of way) and much of the centre and east is protected as part of a Special Area ofConservation of 2.3 square kilometres (570 acres).

The island of Ireland's Eye, part of the Special Area of Conservation, lies about a kilometre north of Howth harbour, withLambay Island some 5 km further to the north. A Martello tower exists on each of these islands with another tower overlookingHowth harbour (opened as a visitor centre and Ye Olde Hurdy-Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio on June 8, 2001

Did you know about the "heritage open days" ? Watch the video below which explains what it is.

Curiosidad

If you want to know more about it, read the following article.

ABOUT HERITAGE OPEN DAYS

Heritage Open Days celebrates England’s fantastic architecture and culture byoffering free access to places that are usually closed to the public or normally chargefor admission.

Every year on four days in September, buildings of every age, style and functionthrow open their doors. It is a once-a-year chance to discover architectural treasuresand enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities that bring local history andculture to life.

So much to see and do

Free of charge and right on people’s doorstep, Heritage Open Days is an event foreveryone, whatever their background, age and ability. From castles to city halls,tunnels to tower tops, police cells to private homes, workshops to woodland walks,the variety of places and ways to discover them are endless.

Joint venture

Heritage Open Days is organised by a huge network of people who share a passionfor places, history and culture. Locally, over 1,400 organisations and some 40,000volunteers organise thousands of site openings and events, jointly attracting over 1million visitors. They make Heritage Open Days England’s biggest voluntary culturalevent.

On a national level, the programme is managed by the Heritage Open Days NationalPartnership and funded by English Heritage.

Opening doors, eyes and minds

Heritage Open Days celebrates what makes local communities and neighbourhoodsspecial. By stimulating curiosity and discovery, the event connects people with theirlocal places and helps foster a sense of belonging and pride.

Roots

After a first pilot in Gosport proved a success, the now defunct Civic Trustestablished Heritage Open Days in 1994 as England’s contribution to the EuropeanHeritage Days.

Starting out with some 700 sites, Heritage Open Days has since developed intoBritain’s largest and most popular grassroots heritage event, with participation morethan doubling during the first decade of the millennium.

Source: http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/about

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

After reading the text, decide if the following statements are true or false.

1. During the Heritage Open Days, you can visit different places for free.

2. The Heritage Open Days event occurs twice a year.

3. This event is organised by volunteers and people who take grant of it.

4. The number of organizations which contribute with this event have doubled since the first time this eventwas celebrated.

5. It encourages a sense of belonging and pride.

6. The first time it was held was in Gosport.

7. At the beginning, there were around 700 places joined to the programme.

8. In 1994, the British Council established this event as England's contribution to the European HeritageDays.

9. The participation is growing constantly.

Do you believe in ghosts?Did you know about ghost stories related to Irish castles? Here you have the history of Dunlace

Castle.

DUNLACE CASTLE, NORTHERNIRELAND

Built precariously on the edge of a cliff onthe north Antrim Coast, this Normancastle has been remodeled numeroustimes over the ages, but former residents

Pregunta Verdadero-Falso

Curiosidad

4. Tom meets his aunty

Imagen de Dridik Johnck en Flickr bajo licencia CC

times over the ages, but former residentscan’t seem to let go.

In 1586, a royal feud ensued for thecastle and ended with the unfortunatehanging of the previous castle constable.This ghostly figure, dressed in a purplecloak and a ponytail, wanders the DunluceCastle tower from which he was killed.

In 1639, the kitchen collapsed into thesea, taking several servants to theirgrave. Today, visitors report feeling a coldchill in certain parts of the castle andstaff arrives at the gift shop to find booksrelocated and radios blaring.

Although no one has sensed a maliciousspirit among these ghosts, the idea ofplayful residents returning to entertainthe living is downright creepy.

Source: http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/09-10/6-of-the-creepiest-castles-in-the-world.html

Imagen de Kevin Dooley en Flickr bajo licencia CC

Tom is now in Dublin and after asking many people about the residence of his aunty, he finally meets her. Tom is invited tohave tea to his aunty's house and they talk about their lives for long hours. His aunty tells him how her daily life in Dublin is.

Watch the video about daily routines and click here to do the exercise about it.

Watch the following explanation about the use of adverbs of frequency:

Now write down the adverbs of frequency and/or times of the day that the speaker uses in thefollowing video:

Reflexión

Pulse aquí

Pulse aquí

Listen to the extracts of different songs and review the adverbs of frequency mentioned.

Tell your partner what your daily routine is and ask him/her how often he/she does different things.

Reflexión

Para saber más

4.1. Present simple and continuous review

Pulse aquí

Imagen de Enrique Burgos en Flickr bajo licencia CC

After Tom's visit to his aunt's, he sends an email to hismother Anna telling her how happy he is.

Write that email as if you were Tom and send it toyour classmate. Write between 100 - 125 words.

Imagen de Mark Turnauckas en Flickr bajo licencia CC

As you may know, students of English as a foreign language make mistakes when they learn the use of English verb tenses.Watch the following video that explains the use of present simple and continuous. After that, try to correct the

mistakes that the speakers make when using these verb tenses.

Reflexión

After reviewing what you already know about present simple and continuous, practise what you know on thefollowing links:

Present simple or continuous 1Present simple or continuous 2

I am sittingIn the morning

At the dinerOn the corner

I At the counterFor the man

To pour the coffee

And he fills itOnly halfwayAnd before

I even argue

He

Out the window

At somebodyComing in

"It alwaysNice to see you"

Says the manBehind the counter

To the womanWho has come in

She

Her umbrella

And I lookThe other wayAs they

Their hellos

I'm pretendingNot to see them

And Instead

And I'm

To the horoscopeAnd

For the funnies

When I'm feelingSomeone watching

meAnd so

I raise my head

There's a womanOn the outsideLooking inside

she

me?

No she does notReally see me

Cause she

Her own reflection

And I'm tryingNot to notice

That she'shitching

Up her skirt

And while she'sStraightening her

stockingsHer hair

wet

Oh, this rainIt will continue

Through themorning

As I'm listening

To the bells

Listen to Suzanne Vega feat DNA's song "Tom's Diner" below and fill in the gaps with the word youhear.

Para saber más

Rellenar huecos

4.1.1. Pronunciation & spelling of third person singular

I pour the milk

I openUp the paper

There's a storyOf an actor

Who had diedWhile he

He was no oneI had heard of

To the bellsOf the cathedral

I

Of your voice...

And of themidnight picnic

Once upon a timeBefore the rain

began...

I upmy coffee

It's time to catchthe train

Enviar

Although the morphological suffix for third person singular verbs in the simple present tense is-s or -es , the suffix is pronounced differently depending on the sound of the last syllable ofthe verb. If the last syllable of the verb sounds like:

s, se, ce [s]*z, ze [z]sh [š]ch [č]j, dge [ĵ],

Then the suffix is pronounced as a voiced ez [әz] . For example:faces [fesәz]misses [mIsәz]dozes [dozәz]hushes [hәšәz]catches [kætčәz]nudges [nәĵәz]

If the last syllable of the verb is a voiceless sound , then the suffix is pronounced as anunvoiced s [s] . Voiceless sounds are produced by not vibrating the larynx, or voice box, in thethroat. The voiceless, or unvoiced, sounds in English are:

p, pe [p]t, tt, te [t]k, ck, ke [k]f, gh [f]th [θ]h [h]y [j]

For example:breaks [breiks]counts [kaunts]drinks [driŋks]hopes [hops]likes [laiks]sits [sIts]

If the last syllable of the verb is a voiced sound , then the suffix is pronounced as a voiced z[z] . Voiced sounds are produced by vibrating the larynx, or voice box, in the throat. The voicedsounds in English are:

m, me [m]n, ne [n]ng [ŋ]b, be [b]d, de [d]g, ge [g]v, ve [v]th [ð]w [w]r, re [r]l, ll, le [l]

All vowels in English are also voiced sounds. For example:calls [kalz]destroys [distroiz]gives [gIvz]moans [monz]sobs [sabz]tries [traiz]

When a word ends in [s], [sh], [ch], [z], [j] the -es is pronounced as a separate syllable: [ɪz].Therefore, if a verb ends in one of these sounds, the present tense will have one more syllablethan the simple form.

Examples:

fix (1 syllable)-->fixes (2 syllables)

kiss (1 syllable)-->kisses (2 syllables)

wash (1 syllable)-->washes (2 syllables)

watch (1 syllable)-->watches (2 syllables)

damage (2 syllables)-->damages (3 syllables)

memorize (3 syllables)-->memorizes (4 syllables)

exercise (3 syllables)-->exercises (4 syllables)

*The letters in brackets are the sounds written in the International Phonetic Alphabet preceded by some spellings ofthe sounds in written English.

Source: http://www.brighthubeducation.com/esl-lesson-plans/39426-spelling-and-pronuciation-rules-for-simple-present-tense/

Listen and repeat the words said in the following links:

Simple Present 1 - (e)s pronounced as [z]

Simple Present 2 - (e)s pronounced as [s]

Simple Present 3 - es pronounced as [ɪz]

Para saber más

The spelling rules for third person singular when talking about present simple are:The ending is -es when the word ends in -s/-ss/-sh/-ch/-x/-o. Eg: misses, goes,

teaches, washes, fixes.Verbs ending in -y change to ie before the ending -s . Eg: studies.Verbs ending in -ay -ey- oy- uy do not change. Just add -s . Eg: plays, enjoys, buys.

Look at the video about the pronunciation of third person singular:

Every morning, my mother me up at about seven. She usually

cereal or toasts for breakfast. She rarely cherry

muffins. They are my favourite! I usually my teeth and have a quickshower before having breakfast.

Then, my mother me to school in her car. She hardly ever

a taxi to go to school.

Sometimes, my father is not at home for some days. He to the

university in Scotland or London. He Chemistry there. My sister and

I always my dad, and my mom him, too. When

he back, he always some presents for us! Welove that!!!

Source: http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=8320

Comprobar respuesta Mostrar retroalimentación

Here's a text that contains both present simple and present continuous. Fill in the gaps with thecorrect form of the verb. Once you have finished, check if you know how to pronounce the verbscorrectly.

Actividad desplegable

4.2. Stative and dynamic verbs

How to use stative and dynamic verbs

Some English verbs, which we call state, non-continuous or stative verbs, aren't used in continuous tenses (like the presentcontinuous, or the future continuous). These verbs often describe states that last for some time. Here is a list of some commonones:

STATIVE (OR STATE) VERB LIST

like know belong

love realise fit

hate suppose contain

want mean consist

need understand seem

prefer believe depend

agree remember matter

mind recognise see

own appear look (=seem)

sound taste smell

hear astonish deny

disagree please impress

satisfy promise surprise

doubt think (=havean opinion)

feel (=have anopinion)

wish imagine concern

dislike be have

deserve involve include

lackmeasure(=have length,etc)

possess

owe weigh (=haveweight)

A verb which isn't stative is called a dynamic verb, and is usually an action.

Some verbs can be both stative and dynamic:

Be

be is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in the continuous, it means 'behaving' or'acting'

you are stupid = it's part of your personality, you are being stupid = only now, not usually

Think

think (stative) = have an opinionI think that coffee is great

think (dynamic) = consider, have in my headWhat are you thinking about? I'm thinking about my next holiday

Have

have (stative) = ownI have a car

have (dynamic) = part of an expressionI'm having a party / a picnic / a bath / a good time / a break

See

see (stative) = see with your eyes / understandI see what you meanI see her now, she's just coming along the road

see (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship withI've been seeing my boyfriend for three yearsI'm seeing Robert tomorrow

Taste

taste (stative) = has a certain tasteThis soup tastes greatThe coffee tastes really bitter

taste (dynamic) = the action of tastingThe chef is tasting the soup

('taste' is the same as other similar verbs such as 'smell')

Source: http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/stative-verbs.html

Now watch the following stative verbs tutorial:

For a complete list of stative verbs with lots of examples, click here

Verdadero Falso

Choose the correct option for each statement.

1. "Believe" is a dynamic verb.

2. "Read" is a dynamic verb.

Pregunta Verdadero-Falso

5. Let's celebrate: "Thanksgiving"

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

3. "Smell" (for example: "This fish smells funny" ) is a stative verb.

4. "Paint" is a dynamic verb.

5. "Change" is a stative verb.

6. "Jump" is a stative verb.

7. "Remember" is a stative verb.

8. "Seem" is a dynamic verb.

9. "Want" is a stative verb.

10. "Understand" is a stative verb.

Imagen de Dave en Flickr bajo licencia CC

Check your knowledge about Thanksgiving:Do you know what Americans celebrate in Thanksgiving?When is Thanksgiving exactly celebrated?Do you know the origins of this holiday?What do people do on Thanksgiving Day?

Watch the following video and learn expressions related to Thanksgiving.

corn 01. Large bird kept for food

cranberry 02. People who were born in a place

treaty 03. Dish of pumpkin covered with pastry

pumpkinpie

04. Someone who travels from one placeto another for religious reasons

feast 05. Large meal for many people in orderto celebrate something

thanks 06. Sour-tasting red berry

gravy07. When someone does something nicefor you, you appreciate it andgive_______________ to that person

pilgrim08. Sauce made from the juice of cookedmeat mixed with flour

turkey09. When people or countries agree to dosomething and help each other, theymake a_______________.

natives10. The seeds of a plant that is cookedas food

Source: http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=10036#a

Enviar

Match the following words with their meanings (use two digits to write the numbers, eg: 01):

Rellenar huecos

It’s and we’re round

Little children make a soundAnd there’s no school and we get to playAnd we’re all for this day

Except for the La lala la la la la la except for the turkey

There’s a wreath of leaves on the front doorAnd we all say what we’re thankful forThere’s such and there’s such great funAnd there’s such big smile’s on everyoneExcept for the turkeyLa lala la la la la laExcept for the turkey

We all join hands and sing this songwith and a that’s strong

We bow our heads then we have our It’s a lovely day to say the leastExcept for the turkeyLa lala la la la la laExcept for the turkey

So if you’re a turkey and you’re still alive,you might kinda wanna hideOr soon you’ll probably be dead meatOn this day you’re what we eatSo fly away to a distant landWhere people think turkeys are grandSpread your wings and sore up highAnd be that can flyExcept for the turkey.La lala la la la la laLa la la la la la laLa lala la la la laExcept for the turkey

It’s Thanksgiving day and we’re gathered roundLittle children make a joyful soundThere’s such good food and there’s such great funIt’s a Happy Thanksgiving for everyoneExcept for the turkeyLa lala la la la la laExcept for the turkey

Enviar

Listen to this Thanksgiving song "Except for the Turkey" and fill in the blanks with the words youhear (use one single word for each gap):

Rellenar huecos

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Verdadero Falso

Watch the next videoclip about the story of Thanksgiving:

After watching the video, decide if the following statements are true or false.

1. The name of the boat that bumped into Plymouth Rock was "Mayflower"

2. The people that got out of the boat were pilgrims that came from Great Britain

3. The pilgrims had no problems in their first winter

4. It all happened in 1622

5. Squanto was an English-speaking indian

6. The pilgrims didn't really need any help from the indians

7. The pilgrims and the indians worked together and then had a feast

8. On the feast, they thanked God for the harvest

Pregunta Verdadero-Falso

6. Bite size

Imagen de Jeffrey James Pacres en Flickr bajo licencia CC Imagen de Dave en Flickr bajo licencia CC

Write a letter of "apology" to all the turkeys of the world, expressing your feelings about what people do to thoseinnocent birds. Read your letter to your partner and share your impressions and opinion. Write between 100 - 125words.

Imagen de Shane McGraw en Flickr bajo licencia CC

In Lesson 1 we have practised the four skills :

- We have read several articles and texts about descriptions of people,family trees and Heritage Open Days. You have also read about DunlaceCastle and its legend, and about Howth head.

- The Listening activities in the lesson included different types ofconversations such as interviews about the advantages of taking a gapyear; people's opinions about their partners' character and appearance, amonologue about a typical day in the life of Victoria Fontana, the songTom's Diner and extracts from different songs.

- In order to improve your Speaking , you have practised talking aboutyourself and your habits.

- In the Writing section you have written an email to Tom's motherexplaining how he feels after seeing his aunt and a letter of apology to allthe turkeys in the world.

In order to improve those skills, we have studied:

- vocabulary: adjectives to describe people, family members and habits.

- grammar: the use of adverbs of frequency for habitual actions and routines, times of the day and the difference betweenstative and dynamic verbs. We have also reviewed the form and uses of both present simple and present continuous tensesand the spelling rules for the final -(e)s of the third person singular.

- pronunciation: we have practised the different ways in which the final -(e)s of the third person singular can bepronounced.

- communicative functions: how to describe oneself and others taking into account physical appearance and character. Wehave also talked about routines by means of present simple and present continuous tenses. You have expressed your opinionand put into practise the communicative function of guessing.

- culture: we have learnt about Thanksgiving, expressions related to it and the concept of Irish Heritage.