Life Experiences

Week 17^th – 19^th

Hello students!

We have started talking about experiences in our life.

We used “Have you ever…?” because they are general experiences and we don’t ask or say “when” we had them.

The structure of present perfect is the same as in Spanish, but its use is different, so don’t translate from Spanish into English!!!!

·           Have you ever found any money in the street?

·           Have you ever won a prize?

·           Have you ever asked anybody famous for their autograph?

·           Have you ever forgotten an important date?

We use have + participle because we are asking in general.

·           How much did you find?

·           What did you do with the money?

·           What prize was it?

·           When did you win the prize?

·           How did you feel?

·           We used did (past simple) because now we are asking about the details of a past event or situation.

To sum up: Use “Have you ever…” to talk about general experiences. Use “Did (past simple)” to ask about the details, (follow – up questions).

We read about the founder of Zara shops.

According to the text, the reason for the success of these shops is that the store reacts quickly to the latest designer fashions. They can produce fashionable but inexpensive clothes. Zara can make a new line of clothes in three weeks. Besides, they change the clothes from week to week.

But, to be able to do this, it’s necessary to have a good team behind - according to Raquel.

According to Juan, the reason for their success is that Amancio Ortega had a good idea and he was able to put it into practice becoming an entrepreneur. And working hard!

We also reviewed vocabulary on clothes.

You can revise your vocabulary on clothes here

Clothing Materials

Last Talks about the Future!

Week 10^th -12^th

This week we finished talking about predictions.

·           Do you think you’ll go somewhere exciting for your next holiday?

·           He’ll definitely pass the exam because he’s studied really hard.

·           I don’t think you’ll get a good job because the situation isn’t very good nowadays. (At present)

·           I may get to the end of this book by the weekend.

·           Will you do something nice next weekend? I hope so.

We also made offers and suggestions.

·         Will you help me with the housework?

·         That bag looks heavy. Shall I carry it for you?

·         What time shall we meet tomorrow?

·         I heard you’ve moved house. I’ll help you with the cleaning.

As we’ve finished talking about the future for the moment, here’s a summary of the different ways of referring to the future in English.

Different ways of talking about the future.

Will/ won’t	decisions (instant / unplanned decisions)	“We are going to the cinema.” I’ll go with you.”
	predictions (based on opinions or wishes)	It’ll rain if you have a barbecue in the garden.
	promises	“I’ll phone you tomorrow.”
	offers	“I´ll help you with your homework.”
Shall	offers (only for I, We; only in questions)	Shall I help you with your case? It looks heavy!
going to (to be + going to+ infinitive)	decisions (planned decisions or arrangements)	He’s going to have dinner with his parents next weekend.
	predictions (based on facts)	Look at those clouds. It’s going to rain.
	intentions	I’m going to boil some water to make spaghetti.
present continuous (to be + ing)	plans or arrangements (things you write in your diary. E.g.: going to the dentist, meetings, talking to your kids’ teacher etc.)	He’s having dinner with his parents next weekend.

For definite plans (arrangements) it’s better to use “present continuous”, but you can also use “going to.” Both are correct.

I’m talking to the teacher tomorrow. I’m going to talk to the teacher tomorrow.

We worked a little on pronunciation and we finished the week starting to talk about the news.

 Listening : Arranging a Charity Show

At Work / At the Restaurant

Week 3^rd – 5^th

We started the week talking about work.

·      Did you notice how many different ways of saying that somebody has lost their job, there are in English?

To be dismissed / fired / sacked /laid off / made redundant

·         But there are also ways of saying that someone left their job voluntarily:

To give up / resign from a job / quit

·      When you stop working because you get old, you retire from a job.

·      When you don’t go to work because you are ill, had a baby or other reason, we say that you are on leave.

On sick leave, on maternity/paternity leave or just, on leave!

·      We can work:

Part-time / full-time / shifts / flexitime

We also talked about pessimistic and optimistic predictions.

·         I have my driving test next week. You’ll fail. / I’m sure you’ll pass.

·         I’m going on a ski holiday! You’ll break a leg. / You’ll enjoy a lot.

·         My team are playing in the cup tonight. They won’t win ./ They’ll win.

Remember to use will/won’t for predictions based on opinion or possibility.

I think some of you exchanged the Wednesday class for the football match! We had a lesson based on “Restaurant Problems”

Waiter’s lines:

Have you got a reservation?

Are you ready to order?

Customer’s lines:

A table for two, please.

I’ll have / I’d like / The soup for me, please.

Can you bring me the bill / check, please?

Bill = British English             Check = American English

Complaining:

Excuse me, I think the bill is wrong.

Excuse me, I’m afraid there´s a mistake in the bill.

Excuse me, I ordered my steak rare and this is well done.

Responding to complaints:

I’m sorry, Sir. I’ll change it immediately.

I’m sorry, Madam. I’ll get you a new one.

I’m sorry. I’ll take it to the kitchen.

To complain about something /to make a complaint = to say you don’t like or don’t agree with sth.

Complain (about): verb

Complaint: noun

What’s on the menu?

Starters, main courses, desserts

At the restaurant

Listening

Don't Lose your Glasses, Don't Miss your Next English Class!

Week 27^th – 29^th

We started the week reading and listening about “The friendliest City in the World.”

 A journalist conducted an experiment so as to find out which city this was.

He did three tests: the photo test- he asked people to take a photo of him, the shopping test- he bought something and paid more than it really was, so as to check if he’d get the right change; and finally, the accident test- he pretended (it wasn’t true) to fall over and check, in that way if people would help.

He tried his experiment in Paris, Rome, New York and London.

It seems that London is the most unfriendly city in the world. On the other hand, New York is the friendliest one. –Was the journalist American, I wonder!

You told me about “The Best and the Worst.”

It seems to me that we agree on some of the topics.

The worst programme on TV is “Sálvame”.

The best film I’ve ever seen is “Captain Phillips”.

The coldest place she’s ever been is Burgos.

The worst TV presenter on TV is Jorge Javier.

Then, we talked about optimists and pessimists.

Do you see the glass half full or half empty?

Adjective	Noun
I am an optimistic person.	I am an optimist.
I am a pessimistic person.	I am a pessimist.

And finally, we made sentences with some opposite verbs and also some confusing verbs.

Do you often lose your glasses?

Have you missed any English lessons?

Have you ever missed a bus? And a plane?

What things do people lose more frequently?

Do you lend money to friends? Why/ why not?

Do you borrow money from friends? Why/ why not?

See you on Monday!!

The Five Coldest and Hottest Places on Earth!