To borrow y to lend son dos verbos que normalmente los estudiantes tienen problemas con su uso.
To borrow: pedir prestado/coger algo de alguien. You borrow something from somebody
Example: Can I borrow your car?
¿Puedo coger tu coche?
To lend: dejar algo a alguien. You lend something to somebody.
Example: I lent my car to my husband yesterday.
Le dejé el coche a mi marido ayer.
También podemos usar lend con la estrucutra: dejar a alguien algo.
Example: Lend me your car to go shopping, please.
Déjame el coche para ir de compras, por favor.
11/11/12
7/11/12
Himno de los Estados Unidos
Ahora que USA está de actualidad debido a las elecciones, os pongo un vídeo del himno que habéis escuchado tantas veces en películas y competiciones deportivas.
NATIONAL ANTHEM = HIMNO NACIONAL
31/10/12
Halloween - vocabulario -
TRICK OR TREAT?!!
Seguro que ya habéis escuchado esta expresión alguna vez. El significado es "truco o trato" (es una broma diciendo que si no les das golosinas harán alguna travesura).
More vocabulary related to Halloween:
| Halloween | Noche de Brujas |
| bat | murciélago |
| black cat | gato negro |
| candy | caramelos |
| cobweb | telaraña |
| costume | disfraz |
| devil | diablo |
| ghost | fantasma |
| haunted house | casa embrujada |
| magic | magia |
| monster | monstruo |
| mummy | momia |
| pumpkin | calabaza |
| skeleton | esqueleto |
| spell | hechizo |
| spider | araña |
| vampire | vampiro |
| witch | bruja |
| wizard | brujo, mago |
Ancient Origins of Halloween
Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred.
27/10/12
La paradoja del tiempo
Aquí tenéis "Real Reading" y ¡ mucho que pensar!
THE PARADOX OF OUR TIME
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
20/10/12
Cambiar de canal
Muchas veces existen varias expresiones para decir una misma cosa. Hoy veremos dos formas de decir "cambiar de canal" cuando vemos la televisión.
La primera (y más lógica para nosotros) es "change the channel":
Please change to another channel, I don't like this program.
(Por favor cambia de canal, no me gusta este programa).
También tenemos la opción de usar el phrasal verb "turn over":
Whenever Belén Esteban is on TV, I turn over.
(Siempre que sale Belén Esteban en la tele, cambio de canal)
La primera (y más lógica para nosotros) es "change the channel":
Please change to another channel, I don't like this program.
(Por favor cambia de canal, no me gusta este programa).
También tenemos la opción de usar el phrasal verb "turn over":
Whenever Belén Esteban is on TV, I turn over.
(Siempre que sale Belén Esteban en la tele, cambio de canal)
9/10/12
Train - Drive by -
Algunas expresiones y palabras útiles:
a drive by: something casual, superficial
overwhelmed: to overcome completely in mind or feeling
two-ply: consisting on two thicknesses, layers, strands, etc
hefty: heavy, big, strong
groovy: attractive, stimulating
up my sleeve: to have a secret plan
"to ya": to you
Spelling mistakes
Hay algunas palabras que nos pueden generar bastante confusión a la hora de escribirlas. Hay que tener bastante cuidado a la hora de hacer un examen ya que los "spelling mistakes" pueden hacer que perdamos puntos que nos den una buena nota o incluso nos hagan aprobar el examen.
Te propongo que encuentres la correcta:
writing - writting
wich - which
addres - address - adress
business - bussines - bussiness
bycicle - bicycle
accommodation - acommodation - accomodation
definitily - definitely
finaly - finally
unbelievable - unveliable
goverment - government
wonderfull - wonderful
disappoint - dissappoint - dissapoint
Una vez hecha tu apuesta, compruébalo en el diccionario y ¡suerte!
3/10/12
Mark this!
Mark es un amigo que se dedica a ayudar a la gente.....descubre cómo con este "Real Listening".
24/9/12
Valencia: A Spanish city without medicine
En BBC News han publicado una noticia sobre nuestra ciudad bastante inquietante:
Para leer más: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19682049
....Paula guides me into that back room that exists in all pharmacies, where the prescription drugs are kept. The problem is, now, there are not many drugs left.
"Look, this drawer is usually full," she says, pointing to where the suppositories are kept. Now there are only two packets."
She opens the fridge. "Look," she says, "we are down to our last packs of insulin. We just have no money to buy the stock."
I ask: "What happens if several people come in on the same day for insulin?" She makes two fingers walk along the back of her wrist. "They have to go around the neighbourhood to see if anybody else has it. It is the same with drugs for heart disease, stroke, anti-retrovirals.".....
Para leer más: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19682049
19/9/12
MUST como deducción
Casi todos conocéis el significado de "must" con sentido de obligación/prohibición: "You mustn't smoke in class" (No debes/está prohibido fumar en clase).
Este verbo modal también se usa para indicar deducción cuando estamos prácticamente seguros de algo porque es lógico.
Examples:
I would like to be an actor. It must be very interesting.
(Me gustaría ser actor. Debe de ser muy interesante)
There's the doorbell. It must be my mother.
(Llaman al timbre. Debe de ser mi madre)
She won the lottery yesterday. She must be really happy today!
(Ella ganó la lotería ayer. ¡Hoy debe de estar muy contenta!)
Este verbo modal también se usa para indicar deducción cuando estamos prácticamente seguros de algo porque es lógico.
Examples:
I would like to be an actor. It must be very interesting.
(Me gustaría ser actor. Debe de ser muy interesante)
There's the doorbell. It must be my mother.
(Llaman al timbre. Debe de ser mi madre)
She won the lottery yesterday. She must be really happy today!
(Ella ganó la lotería ayer. ¡Hoy debe de estar muy contenta!)
12/9/12
Preparados, listos....¡ya!
Ya empieza el curso escolar y los exámenes de acceso para la Escuela Oficial de Idiomas.
Para estar preparados y tener fuerzas para la "vuelta al cole" vamos a aprender la expresión en inglés Preparados, listos, ¡ya!
READY.....STEADY......GO!!!!
Os recuerdo el link de la EOI para consultar la información sobre las pruebas de acceso:
http://www.eoivalencia.es/
21/7/12
Rolling in the deep
Canción de Adele para seguir practicando la pronunciación. Aunque esta vez también os dejo una pregunta abierta ¿Qué significa "rollling in the deep? :)
18/7/12
Algunos proverbios en inglés
Veamos algunos proverbios (proverbs) o dichos (sayings):
- Mejor tarde que nunca: Better late than never.
- No se puede tener todo: You can't have your cake and eat it.
- La gota que colmó el vaso: It was the last straw that broke the camel's back.
- Si quieres, puedes: Where there's a will, there's a way.
- Es agua pasada: That's water under the bridge.
- Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando: A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
- No hay mal que por bien no venga: Every cloud has a silver lining.
- No juzgues las cosas por su apariencia: Don't judge a book by its cover.
To be continued....continuará!
- Mejor tarde que nunca: Better late than never.
- No se puede tener todo: You can't have your cake and eat it.
- La gota que colmó el vaso: It was the last straw that broke the camel's back.
- Si quieres, puedes: Where there's a will, there's a way.
- Es agua pasada: That's water under the bridge.
- Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando: A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
- No hay mal que por bien no venga: Every cloud has a silver lining.
- No juzgues las cosas por su apariencia: Don't judge a book by its cover.
To be continued....continuará!
11/7/12
Sally's poem
Este precioso poema lo escribió mi amiga Sally Thompson y ella misma nos lo recita:
Chosen
I am a piece of paper, upon a dusty shelf
I wait for ink to stain my sides, to re-invent myself
I lie here, still and silent; unfinished, not yet whole
And long for print to pour in showers of words upon my soul
My purpose, as yet unfilled; my role still undefined
Perhaps I may, one day, a passing poet's fancy find
If I could choose, I'd have an artist take me in his hands
To cast his brilliant painted dreams across my barren lands
But when I am selected, I may not turn aside
My smooth-skinned form is there to serve, and cannot be denied
The print may resonate, or it may cut me to the heart
Whoever comes, I must submit my surface, to his art.
3/7/12
La tercera persona del singular
Ayyyy la tercera persona del singular...es un quebradero de cabeza para los estudiantes principiantes!!
La tercera persona del singular es HE, SHE, IT y siempre escribiremos el verbo añadiendo -s, -es.
Por ejemplo: She writeS a poem every day.
He goES to the beach once a week.
Here it rainS every other day.
¿Pero cuando añadimos S, ES ? ¿Y qué ocurre con los verbos que terminan en Y?
Veamos las reglas:
1) We add -es to the verbs that end in the following letters: -sh (fishes), -x (fixes), -ch (catches), s (misses), -z (buzzes).
2) We also add -es to verbs that end in consonant + o (goes, does).
3) We change the -y to an i and add -es to verbs that end in a consonant + -y (try – tries, apply – applies).
4)We add -s to most other verbs (walks) including words that end in -e (bite) and words that end in vowel + -y (stays).
Existen excepciones como por ejemplo el verbo have, cuya tercera persona del singular es HAS.
El verbo "to be" es irregular, por lo que la tercera persona sing. es IS
Estas reglas sirven para despejarte las dudas, pero una vez tengas práctica te puedo asegurar que no las necesitarás. ¡Te saldrá solo!
La tercera persona del singular es HE, SHE, IT y siempre escribiremos el verbo añadiendo -s, -es.
Por ejemplo: She writeS a poem every day.
He goES to the beach once a week.
Here it rainS every other day.
¿Pero cuando añadimos S, ES ? ¿Y qué ocurre con los verbos que terminan en Y?
Veamos las reglas:
1) We add -es to the verbs that end in the following letters: -sh (fishes), -x (fixes), -ch (catches), s (misses), -z (buzzes).
2) We also add -es to verbs that end in consonant + o (goes, does).
3) We change the -y to an i and add -es to verbs that end in a consonant + -y (try – tries, apply – applies).
4)We add -s to most other verbs (walks) including words that end in -e (bite) and words that end in vowel + -y (stays).
Existen excepciones como por ejemplo el verbo have, cuya tercera persona del singular es HAS.
El verbo "to be" es irregular, por lo que la tercera persona sing. es IS
Estas reglas sirven para despejarte las dudas, pero una vez tengas práctica te puedo asegurar que no las necesitarás. ¡Te saldrá solo!
1/7/12
Incendios en Valencia
Debido a la magnitud de los incendios la prensa internacional se ha hecho eco de la noticia.
Firefighters battle forest blaze
More than 1000 hectares of woodland were ravaged in Cortes de Palla in Valencia, said the head of the eastern region, Alberto Fabra, who termed it "one of the biggest fires in recent years".
The blaze was sparked Thursday during work to fit solar panels on homes in the area, he said. Two people were arrested and placed under judicial supervision, said a spokesman for the prefecture.
The local government said the flames were fanned by "unfavourable weather conditions with very high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds."
Sigue leyendo la noticia en: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/firefighters-battle-forest-blaze/story-fn6e1m7z-1226413368005
Firefighters battle forest blaze
MORE than 1300 Spanish firefighters are fighting to contain bushfires that have
razed vast forest areas.
Wildfires raged in the Valencia and Barcelona regions, forcing the evacuation
of many hundreds of people from entire villages. Thirty fire-bombing aircraft
have been deployed to battle the blaze.More than 1000 hectares of woodland were ravaged in Cortes de Palla in Valencia, said the head of the eastern region, Alberto Fabra, who termed it "one of the biggest fires in recent years".
The blaze was sparked Thursday during work to fit solar panels on homes in the area, he said. Two people were arrested and placed under judicial supervision, said a spokesman for the prefecture.
The local government said the flames were fanned by "unfavourable weather conditions with very high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds."
Sigue leyendo la noticia en: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/firefighters-battle-forest-blaze/story-fn6e1m7z-1226413368005
27/6/12
¿Sabes los colores en inglés?
A todos nos han enseñado en el colegio los colores en inglés como rojo, amarillo, verde y azul....pero no nos podemos estancar ahí. ¡Hay que seguir avanzando!
¿Cómo expresarías que el vestido que tanto te gustó era azulado o que el cielo estaba rojizo?
Veamos como expresar algunos de estos matices:
Verdoso: greenish
Azulado: bluish
Rojizo: reddish
Anaranjado: orangey/orangish
Amarillento: yellowish
Grisáceo: greyish
Ahora intenta encontrar la pareja en español de los siguientes colores:
A) emerald green, turquoise, violet, silver, navy blue, golden, sky blue, maroon, fuchsia, ivory, mustard.
B) azul marino, violeta, granate, dorado, verde esmeralda,mostaza, turquesa, marfil, plateado, azul celeste, fucsia.
Ya sabes lo más importante, la práctica. Puedes inventar frases usando los colores que no conocías.
¿Cómo expresarías que el vestido que tanto te gustó era azulado o que el cielo estaba rojizo?
Veamos como expresar algunos de estos matices:
Verdoso: greenish
Azulado: bluish
Rojizo: reddish
Anaranjado: orangey/orangish
Amarillento: yellowish
Grisáceo: greyish
Ahora intenta encontrar la pareja en español de los siguientes colores:
A) emerald green, turquoise, violet, silver, navy blue, golden, sky blue, maroon, fuchsia, ivory, mustard.
B) azul marino, violeta, granate, dorado, verde esmeralda,mostaza, turquesa, marfil, plateado, azul celeste, fucsia.
Ya sabes lo más importante, la práctica. Puedes inventar frases usando los colores que no conocías.
22/6/12
Lo mejor de ser profesora
Ser profesora de inglés es una satisfacción, especialmente cuando ves los frutos de tu trabajo ya sea cuando los alumnos aprueban los exámenes o cuando los más pequeños te dan muestras de afecto como ésta:
I'm very proud of you. THANK YOU!!!
18/6/12
Lo que no te mata....
Algunos alumnos me han pedido que ponga una canción más disco. Bueno, aquí la tenéis pero hay que sacar el máximo partido de ella:
La canción se titula "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger", este idiom or proverb significa "lo que no te mata de hace más fuerte".
Fijaros también en dos cosas, como se forma el comparativo "más fuerte": STRONG + ER
y en la tercera persona del singular (What doesn't kill you = IT) que hace que el verbo sea makeS.
¡Y ahora a disfrutar de la canción!
La canción se titula "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger", este idiom or proverb significa "lo que no te mata de hace más fuerte".
Fijaros también en dos cosas, como se forma el comparativo "más fuerte": STRONG + ER
y en la tercera persona del singular (What doesn't kill you = IT) que hace que el verbo sea makeS.
¡Y ahora a disfrutar de la canción!
10/6/12
Técnicas de relajación para los exámenes
Ahora que tantos de vosotros tenéis exámenes y trabajos que entregar, os dejo algunas "Relaxation Techniques" para poner en práctica:
Before the exam:
It helps to feel as well-prepared as possible. As well as thinking about the subjects you are revising, it can be useful to pay attention to practical aspects of the exam. Find out where it is scheduled to take place and how long it will take you to get there. It's a good idea to go and look at the room/building so that it feels more familiar. Make sure you know the rules and regulations about what you can take into the exam room etc.
Put yourself into a positive frame of mind by imagining how you would LIKE things to go. Imagine yourself turning up for the exam feeling confident and relaxed - try to picture it in as much detail as possible. Rather like rehearsing for a part in a play, this can replace negative, anxious thoughts with more positive ones.
In the exam:
Take a deep breath in and a long breath out. Breathe in again and straighten your back - as if someone were pulling a lever between your shoulder blades. Look straight ahead at something inanimate (the wall, a picture, the clock...) and focus your mind on the positive thought 'I CAN DO this exam' as you breathe out.
Anxiety management techniques:
Thought-stopping technique
When we become anxious we begin to have negative thoughts ('I can't answer anything', 'I'm going to panic' etc). If this is happening, halt the spiralling thoughts by mentally shouting 'STOP!'. Or picture a road STOP sign, or traffic lights on red.
Use a mantra
Derived from meditation, a mantra is a word or phrase which you repeat to yourself. Saying something like 'calm' or 'relax' under your breath or in your head, over and over again, can help defuse anxiety.
More info: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/student/services/health/exam.html
Before the exam:
It helps to feel as well-prepared as possible. As well as thinking about the subjects you are revising, it can be useful to pay attention to practical aspects of the exam. Find out where it is scheduled to take place and how long it will take you to get there. It's a good idea to go and look at the room/building so that it feels more familiar. Make sure you know the rules and regulations about what you can take into the exam room etc.
Put yourself into a positive frame of mind by imagining how you would LIKE things to go. Imagine yourself turning up for the exam feeling confident and relaxed - try to picture it in as much detail as possible. Rather like rehearsing for a part in a play, this can replace negative, anxious thoughts with more positive ones.
In the exam:
Take a deep breath in and a long breath out. Breathe in again and straighten your back - as if someone were pulling a lever between your shoulder blades. Look straight ahead at something inanimate (the wall, a picture, the clock...) and focus your mind on the positive thought 'I CAN DO this exam' as you breathe out.
Anxiety management techniques:
Thought-stopping technique
When we become anxious we begin to have negative thoughts ('I can't answer anything', 'I'm going to panic' etc). If this is happening, halt the spiralling thoughts by mentally shouting 'STOP!'. Or picture a road STOP sign, or traffic lights on red.
Use a mantra
Derived from meditation, a mantra is a word or phrase which you repeat to yourself. Saying something like 'calm' or 'relax' under your breath or in your head, over and over again, can help defuse anxiety.
More info: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/student/services/health/exam.html
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