PI2_MW_20H20

We did unit 7.2 exercises 1 and 2 and some powerpoint activities which will be sent by email as soon as we finish the unit. Homework: student's book page 74 exercises 1 and 2.

FCE_MW_18H30

We did lots of activities about reporting passive structure, workbook page 46 exercises 1 and 2, and page 81 exercises 1 and 2. Homework: workbook page 47 exercises 3 and 4 and the four first ecampus exercises in unit 9.

I2_MW_16H00

We did exercises 2, 3 and 4 on pages 62 and 63 and some powerpoint activities. Homework: workbook page 42 exercises 4, 5 and 6 + ecampus - modifiers and quantifiers, determiners - quantifiers.

WORD OF THE WEEK - POSH

The Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners defines the word posh as follows:

1. something that is posh looks expensive and attractive.
2. someone who is posh talks and behaves in a way that is typical of people from a high social class.

It is widely believed that this word has its origins in the days of the British Empire when members of the civil service and armed forces would travel out to India to do their duty, often taking family members with them. The journey by sea was quite arduous and in order to make it more pleasant, wealthier passengers would buy the more shaded cabins on the port (left) side of the ship on the voyage out to India. This kept them out of the sun. Likewise, on the return journey they would buy cabins on the starboard (right) side of the ship. Thus the story went round that posh is an acronym for ‘port out, starboard home’. It is a nice theory but unfortunately one that has never been proved. In fact the Oxford Concise Dictionary of English Etymology states simply that the word posh is “of unknown origin”.

The word posh only functions as an adjective: in very colloquial British English, a posh person is sometimes referred to as a posho

MAC3_SAT

We started the class checking vocabulary. Then you were exposed to future tenses (page 148 and 149). We also talked about the past (back to the future film) and a time capsule (pages 92 and 93). Homework: page 150, exercises 2, 4 and 5, and the first, second and last exercises in module 9 (ecampus).

PI2_MW_20H20

We did exercises 4 to 9 on pages 66 and 67, so please have a look at 'will' for predictions. Homework: workbook page 43, exercise 5 and student's book page 67, exercise 10.

FCE_MW_18H30

We started the class with a review of vocabulary, then we did some class discussion from a powerpoint file and page 80, up to exercise 2 (close up). Homework: exercise 3 on page 80.

I2_MW_16H00

We did exercises 4, 8 and 9 on page 61 and the CDROM unit 8A (the passive). Homework: workbook pages 40 and 41, exercises 2 and 5.

PI2_MW_20H20

We started unit 7 Places, I used the website www.visitbritain.co.uk to check britain's top 15 attractions and we also did page 66 up to exercise 3.

FCE_MW_18H30

We started unit 9 and did some activities about how to describe people's appearance.

PHRASE OF THE WEEK

Dear students,
I'm not going to post anything because it's test week.

According to the Macmillan English Dictionary, if a place or an organization is going to the dogs, it is not as good as it was in the past. People often say things like “This country’s going to the dogs. Things aren’t like they were 30 years ago” or “This train service is going to the dogs. The trains are always late. The seats are uncomfortable and the fares are high”.

The origin of this expression is believed to be in ancient China where dogs, by tradition, were not permitted within the walls of cities. Consequently, stray dogs roamed the areas outside the city walls and lived off the rubbish thrown out of the city by its inhabitants. Criminals and social outcast were often expelled from cities and were sent to live among the rubbish – and the dogs. Such people were said to have “gone to the dogs”, both literally in that that was where they were now to be found, and metaphorically in the sense that their lives had taken a distinct turn for the worse.

PI2_MW_20H20

We corrected the exercises you were supposed to do and also checked your doubts about 'used to, modal verbs and since and for'. Study for the test!!!!

FCE_MW_18H30

We did a review of dynamic and stative verbs, affixes and reporting verbs. We also did an oral activity in pairs.

I2_MW_16H00

Unit 7D done and indirect questions. Homework: ecampus unit 2, study for the test indirect questions, abilities and unreal conditionals.

FL11_TT_18h30

We did pages 71 to 74 and the writing task preparation. Homework: writing task 4

FCE_MW_18H30

We finished unit 8 and did the exercises about affixes. In addition, we talked about better words to be used when writing a report. Homework: writing task 2.

I2_MW_16H00

Hello! We corrected the homework and finished unit 7B. Then we did the writing task preparation, which can be found on pages 76 and 77 (reading and writing portfolio) exercises 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7.
You have to write instructions according to the ones in exercise 1.

FL11_TT_18h30

We finished patterns to notice on page 61 and also the listening activity, pages 62 and 63 and, finally, the writing task preparation. Homework: writing task 3.

MAC1_ESPM

We did page 14 (wordspot) and the writing task preparation, in which you have to write about the most pressing problems in São Paulo and its possible solutions. Homework: writing task 2.

PHRASE OF THE WEEK - TO PULL SOMEONE'S LEG

If you try to pull someone’s leg, you try and make them believe something that isn’t true. “You’re pulling my leg!” is another way of saying “I don’t believe what you’re saying” or “You must be joking!”.

It often has humorous associations but the origin of the expression has nothing to do with making jokes or telling funny stories. It has its origins in the criminal world of 18th and 19th century London. In those days street robbers often worked in gangs of two. One would trip up the unsuspecting victim and the other would remove his money and other valuables while he was lying on the ground. The robber didn’t literally pull the victim’s leg but caused him to stumble and fall and then lose his valuables. If your leg is pulled now, you don’t lose your money but you might betray your ignorance and lose your temper.