Language Exchange via Skype

Mixxer

I have already explained in class that there is a possibility for you to practice your speaking skills with native speakers. All you have to do is log on at The Mixxer, a free website where all those who are learning a foreign language advertise themselves searching for conversation partners. The rules are quite simple: half an hour in your language and another half in the partner's one. Once, you start filling the application form to become a member, they will require a user name for Skype. Do not panic if you do not have any, you will find a link next to the box which will lead you to Skype's website and start the process. Do not fear anything, nobody is going to steel your identity or do anything nasty to you. If you do not like what you see or hear. Turn the skype off and delete the contact. Dead easy!

New Widget from Google Reader

Hello everyone! Hope you are enjoying your weekend. I have stopped a minute before I start with mine and decided that it was time to share with you the stuff I come across on my Google Reader. If you take a look to the left you will see there a black box stuffed with headlines, they can be news, audio tracks, videos, TV programs or anything I think it can be useful, interesting or helpful for your English. You cannot complain now about not finding interesting material to read, listen or see in the language you are studying. Looking forward to your comments on the topics you are interested or your requests.

Some (modals of) speculation

This is a post for the students from the intermediate level. I have found a really interesting exercise on the net to practice the use of modal verbs for speculation. The task is made up of five activities each of them suggest a different situation about which you have to speculate. Do at least one and send it to my emai. I'll send it back corrected and commented.

Modals for speculation

One about Speak Up

Some things lead to different ones! And that is what has happened to me when browsing the blogs of the EOI from Santa María de Guía. All of a sudden I bumped into a link to one of the most loved resources you all have been demanding and using at the school: Speak Up. If you click on the pic at the top of this post it will take you to the italian version of this useful magazin. Fantastic, isn't it!
P.S: Thank you to Laura, Eva, Pilar and Asun for thier great contributions, good luck with the Edublog Competition

More interesting English blogs

Hi there! Just about to start the weekend, isn't it? But before we switch off I would like to introduce you to some good initiatives our colleagues from the EOI in Santa María de Guía have been running for a while and which you may find quite useful and handy. They are three different blogs, each of them devoted to the corresponding level and full of stuff to help you with your English. Below you have the links to each of them, don't miss them!

Basic level

Intermediate Level

Advanced Level

Fame Star

Hello everyone! I hope you are enjoying the stuff I've been posting here. Today, I would like you to become celebrities yourselves. You may be wondering how you are going to do it if you do not sing, act or have any special abilities, apart from driving your English teacher mad, no bitterness, and the answer is my famestar. It is a website where you can create your a celeb personality of your own and they do the rest. It is real fun! Below, you will find an example I have made up myself. I wwould like you to do one and send it to me so we can show it in the classroom and practise the autobiography. Hope to hear your stories soon.

Another one on advertisement

Howdy! The other day I posted on a very funny advert campaign from a well-known chocolate brand. Today I'm doing the same with a new sensation on British TV. Actually, they are two. The main character is Alexandr Orlov, a meerkat of Russian origin, who runs a website aiming to compare meerkats. He is somehow upset because people mistake his site for another one. can you tell me the name of the website?

London views

Now that Carnivals have taken over the attention of the public. It may be a good idea to run away from the frenzy of so much flesh and alcohol and enjoy the views of the capital of Britain. Maybe it will give you ideas for a possible get away in the near future. Why don't you try and make your imaginary trip around the always exciting London. You can post and share your arrangements with the rest of the readers. Nice trip!!

More Practice on future plans

Hiya!! I found on BBC's website this exercise which may be useful to keep practicing about future plans and arrangements. Below you have the document with two exercises. If you want the key, you will have to ask for it. You know who and how, jejeje. Sorry I'm a bit mean today. See you!

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

Save File: grammar_challenge-_future_plans.doc

Remembering vocabulary

Hi again! On the Sixthings blog a set of six tips to remember de new vocabulary has been posted. Click the link below to read more about it. Pay special attention to the link about mindmapping. It is a great tool to organize all the vocabulary related to one topic, word or idea. Maybe the first time will not be easy but with some time and practise you will manage to handle it with great accuracy. As for the rest of the tips, you already have seen them in class but it is encouraging to know that other people use them as well.

Six ways of remembering words

And here is an example made by myself to prove my point. It took some time, but it was a great experience. I bet you will get tired of me using it now. Click on the image to enlarge it and have a better view.