Culture: The History of Halloween

EOI General: Nota de prensa

La Escuela de Idiomas da por primera vez plaza a todos los solicitantes.
La oferta se amplia con los numerosos cursos monográficos que tan buena aceptación han tenido durante estos últimos años.

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Monográficos 2008/2009: More info

Hi everyone!

Please check the links below for more information about some of the Specialized Courses that will be taught soon at the EOI Cartagena:

Inglés Bancario I
Inglés Bancario II
Inglés de Negocios

If you are interested, just let me know.

See you!

Module 01. Lifestyles. Couch potato

Hi,

Watch the following video. She's been nicknamed as the 'couch potato cat':



Are you a couch potato too? :)

Courtesy of Carmen Saura

Module 01. Lifestyles. What are the French like?

Watch the video about people describing the French. Then answer do the activities below:



1. Explain the meaning of the following words. Use a dictionary if necessary:
stuck-up - stand-offish - snobbiness - dour - chic - laid back - amiable

2. What would you answer if you were asked to explain what the French are like? Transcribe your answer as if it was a real interview.

3. What are the Spaniards like?

Reading: 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'

'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' is a 2006 novel by Irish novelist John Boyne. Boyne is the author of 6 novels. Unlike the months of planning Boyne had for his other books, he said that he wrote the entire first draft of Boy in two and a half days, barely sleeping until he got to the end. To date the novel has sold more than 3 million copies around the world. In 2007 it was the best selling book of the year in Spain.

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Module 01. Writing: Email (Students' mistakes)

Study these mistakes from your emails. We'll discuss them in the following class on Wednesday.

1. Dear Jackie:
2. I'm writting you because...
3. [Cartagena] is sited in the southeast of Spain, in the sea coast.
4. It has many beachs and many roman ruins.
5. Comming back some details of my life...
6. He told me you are really interested in contact with a Spanish-speaking person.
7. We like sharing Saturday's lunch all together with my brother and sister in love.
8. Although, we go on holiday in family... to spend some more time together and enjoy as well.
9. Don't doubt about stay at home.
10. I'm in my middle thirties.
11. I'm married with a lovely man.
12. We often have fun in my parent's home.
13. We enjoy swimming in the beach.
14. If you ever get the chance to visit Cartagena you would be wellcome at home.
15. You must know that my name is X.
16. Cabo de Palos is a village near Cartagena out of the stress of the city.
17. At winter it turns out to be very boring
18. My age is 20 so I'm studying at the university.
19. My mother is a housewife, so is my father the only one who works out then.
20. I'll be waiting to hear from you.
21. My family would be proud of knowing you.
22. My parents like very much having foreing people close to know more about others cultures.
23. We like to do touristic visists so we can prepare severals to do with you.
24. It's long time I don't write to you!
25. I suppose you will have already your home redecorated.
26. Don't forget to phone me when you arrived!
27. That's an astonished coincidence. I've lots of books about Spanish's traditions.
28. It's easy to practice a great variety of sports like dive, trek, climb or to hang-gliding.
29. I think I can help you to improve your Spanish in order to do not get lost.
30. My birthday is on November.
31. My brother is ten years old, but it's looks like two years younger.
32. To conclude, I invite you to visit my city.
33. I'm looking for your answer.

Module 01. Extra: Collocations

Hi,

I just checked out the possible collocations for the word argument, and these are the results:


argument noun
1. angry discussion:
angry, bitter, heated, violent, big, argument
little, silly, stupid argument

2. reason supporting opinion:
basic, general, main, good, major, powerful, sound, strong, valid, compelling, conclusive, convincing, persuasive, plausible argument

Source: OXFORD Collocations Dictionary for students of English

The collocation 'plain argument', as some of you suggested in class, might also be possible, but I haven't found any reliable sources to verify it. If you find any good references on the Internet, do not hesitate to post your sources in the Comments section.

See you tomorrow!

Module 01. Extra. An International Conference

Hi all,

In case you are interested, here is the document concerning the activity 'An International Conference', which we dealt with in the class on Monday.

You can print out the whole document, read the information for each of the seven countries, and do Exercise 2) on your own. I've posted the key to the exercise in the Comments section for your convenience.

See you!

Banking English Course at the EOI Cartagena

Hi all,

Just a few lines in Spanish to let you know about some interesting information for all the English-learning community in Cartagena and surrounding areas:

Tan sólo informaros que, como ya viene siendo habitual en estos últimos años, a partir del próximo 29 de Octubre voy a impartir en la Escuela Oficial de Cartagena una nueva edición de mi Curso Monográfico de Inglés Bancario.

El curso está dirigido a cualquier persona con un nivel mínimo recomendado de Nivel Básico II (superado) o Nivel Intermedio I (cursando), y está especialmente recomendado a aquellas personas que trabajen en una entidad bancaria, o que estudien alguna titulación relacionada con el mundo financiero y las finanzas.

El curso tiene una duración de 30 horas, y se impartirá los lunes y miércoles, de 19.00 a 21.00 horas.

Si estáis interesados y creéis tener el nivel suficiente, o bien si conocéis a alguien interesado, no dudéis en informarles acerca de dicho curso.

Además, próximamente también tengo previsto impartir un curso de Inglés Básico para Negocios, así como una posible continuación al Curso de Inglés Bancario, según disponibilidad de espacio e interés que pueda haber en los destinatarios.

Podéis encontrar más información en la Secretaría del centro, o bien en la página de la escuela.

¿Qué mejor forma de enfrentarse a la crisis que con un buen curso de Inglés Bancario? :)

So, in case you are interested in the course, please let me know. As a reference, the three former editions (2006/07/08) were a complete success, and I'm sure this edition will also be 100% satisfaction-guaranteed!

See you!

English resources: www.freerice.com

FreeRice is a is a charity website where users play a various educational multiple-choice games in order to raise money to fight world hunger. The games include chemistry (basic and intermediate), multiplication tables, English vocabulary (the game the site began with), English grammar, basic foreign language vocabulary for English speakers (French, German, Italian, and Spanish), geography (world capitals and country identification), and art.

Visit FreeRice, and somewhere in the world, a person will be eating rice thanks to the help you provided.

Module 01. Lifestyles. Jenna Fischer Video

Watch the following video about Jenna Fischer, an American actress, and answer the questions below:



1. When does Jenna feel most comfortable?
2. What's her secret for being so beautiful?
3. What's the most beautiful city she's ever been to? What was she doing there?
4. What does Jenna like the most about people?

Use the Comments section to make notes of as much extra information as you may have understood.

Module 01: Strategies. The importance of a good pronunciation

Berlitz is one the most popular language agencies in the world. Have a look at one of their commercials:



- Can you explain the punchline of the joke?
- Did you find this commercial funny?
- Do you still believe that a good pronunciation is not so important as other aspects of languages (good grammar, rich vocabulary, etc.)?

You can use the Comments section to post your impressions, as usual.

Fun stuff: 'Do you speak English?'

'Do you speak English?'
'No, I don't, sorry'.



UPDATE: The video is fixed and working now!

Online radio stations

Hi everybody!

In case you want to improve your English by listening to real radio stations, here are some useful links:

Radio Vaughan is an online radio station in English, especially recommended for English learners. It deals with a great variety of topics, and there are also interviews, English lessons and reflections upon the English language. Radio Vaughan also releases their programmes in MP3 format so that you can practice anywhere, any time... :)

Spectrum FM / REM fm is another radio station in English that can be tuned in most areas of the Costa Calida (92.7). Of course, you can also listen to the station online.

I'm sure there are some other local stations in English. I'll let you know when I remember their names! :)

Hope you enjoy them.

Module 01. Extra Grammar: Present/Past States

Complete the gaps with the correct verb tense. Then check your answers using the key in the Comments section

PRESENT STATES
1. The coffee ______________ (taste) bitter.
2. Ring his home number. He ______________ (be) at home now. (I’m sure he’s at home)
3. Tom ______________ (always go) away for weekends and he hardly ever sees his parents.
4. How much ______________ (I owe) you?
5. It’s no use asking Tom; he ______________ (not know).
6. The director ______________ (see) the applicants this morning.
7. ______________ (Bill be) at the club now? What do you think?
8. ______________ (it smell) sour?
9. I ______________ (always make) that mistake!
10. A: I can’t find Jude’s new address. B: Ask Tom; he ______________ (know) it.
11. Let’s not go shopping now. The shops ______________ (be) very crowded.

PAST STATES: USED TO / WOULD

1. I __________ smoke cigarettes.
2. He ___________ drink beer.
3. Every time she _____________ (come) home she _____________ (sit) on the couch, drink a cup of tea and talk about her illness.
4. _____________ (you live) abroad?
5. Tom and Ann _____________ (be) a young married couple. Every morning Tom _____________ (kiss) Ann and set off for work. Ann _____________ (stand) at the window and wave goodbye. In the evening she _____________ (welcome) him home and ask him to tell her about his day.

Module 01. Grammar: Present Habits

Put the verb in the correct form.

1. I ____________ (always go) to work by car.
2. You ____________ (always watch) television. You should do something more active.
3. John is never satisfied. He ____________ (always - complain).
4. The train is never late. It ____________ (always - leave) on time.
5. My parents ____________ (live) in Bristol. They were born there and have never lived anywhere else.
6. I used to drink a lot of coffee but these days I ____________ (prefer) tea.
7. Air ____________ (consist) mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.
8. George says he’s 80 but nobody ____________ (believe) him.
9. Who is that man? What ____________ (he want)?
10. ____________ (you see) that man over there?
11. This room ____________ (smell). Let’s open a window.
12. You look serious. What ____________ (you think) about?
13. I ____________ (think) of giving up my job.
14. Ann ____________ (not seem) very happy at the moment.
15. How ____________ (you feel) now?
16. I ____________ (usually go) by train, but this weekend I ____________ (go) by bus. It ____________ (take) longer but it ____________ (cost) less.
17. Mrs Jones: My daughter ____________ (never write) to me so I ____________ (never know) what she ____________ (do). ____________ (Your son write) to you, Mrs Smith?
Mrs Smith: Yes, I ____________ (hear) from him every week. He ____________ (seem) to like writing letters.
18. These apples ____________ (cost) 40p a bag. ____________ (You think) that is expensive? – It ____________ (depend) on the size of the bag.
19. I ____________ (see) my solicitor tomorrow (I’ve arranged it); I ____________ (change) my will. – You ____________ (always change) your will. Why ____________ (you not leave ) it alone?
20. I ____________ (not think) your brother ____________ (enjoy) the party. He ____________ (keep) looking at his watch.

Courtesy of Carmen Saura