Final exam writing advice.

Hello, everyone.
One simple way to get better, (or worse), marks is how you organise your writing. Have a look at the tips below, and think about how you can apply them to your own writing.

Writing  Advice:

·      Make a plan

·      Write in paragraphs

·      Use a range of vocabulary, even if you are unsure of the correct spelling.

·      Check tense endings, plural forms and word order in sentences.

·      Check irregular past tenses and question formation.

·      Use language that is appropriately formal or informal for the task.

·      Write clearly, so that the examiner can read your answer.

·       

DON'T

·      Don't misspell key words which appear on the question paper.

·      Don't use the exact words from the question paper too much.

·      Don't mix formal and informal language.

·      Don't use formal linkers in an informal letter.

·      Don't worry if you run slightly over the word limit.

Class 22.05.15

In this class we did:

CD Rom 12 - Vocabulary review.

Interview - Simple Vs ing + Active Vs Stative verbs.

Snakes + Ladders - € + Phrasal Verbs.

Extra practice 12 - deduction.

Stories - What would you have done? + deduction.

SB, p. 98-99 - 12B: A great inheritance.

Review Qs. 7-9.

Reading - See blog.

Reading technique for final exam.

For those of you who couldn't make it to class today, here's a reading practice activity for next Friday's final exam. 

I'd like you to follow the same technique we used in class. 

Begin with the questions, underlining the key words. 

Next, read the six short texts quickly, (scan),  underlining anything that sound familiar from the questions. Don't worry about the exact answers for the moment, because that's the next step. 

When you've finished reading the texts, go back to the questions and answer first the ones you think are easiest.

Finally, look again at the articles to answer the trickiest questions, but remember time is important, and it may be better to leave one or two unanswered for the moment. If you finish the rest of your exam, you can come back to them later.

If you'd like to know the answers, write to me, but first do the activity.

Extra practice U.11 & 12

Hi everyone!
What we did in class: everything from pages 93, 94 and 95 from the Student's book (11C and 11D ).
Homework: SB: page 96 exercise 1 and page 125 complete
                    WB: page 59 complete and page 60 number 1
have a nice week, see you on friday!

CSIM Summer courses.

Hello, everyone.
Summer is on the way, and what better time to do that intensive course you've been planning?
All the information you need is on the link below.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x14oawh8kubexr9/CIJ%2015%20DIGITAL%20EN.pdf?dl=0

If you think your friends might be interested, feel free to pass the information on.
See you in Summer.
Tom.

Class 24.4.15

From Belén:

Today in class we did:

DVD-Work Collocations

Talking about the future

Business collocations

Rob's proposal

Reporting a conversation

Theory and practice

You and your diary

CD Unit.11->11B going into business-> ex. Reported speech

Sb. p.91.ex.5a/5c/6a/7a

Homework:

Sb.p.88 (a-d)

DVD 11A Listen + Practice -> Record yourself and send

Wb. 11B. 1 & 2. p.56-57

 The reading on p.92, + Ex 2c.

And I think that's it!

Thanks and have a great weekend!

Today in class we did:

 Review:
Work collocations. SB: Page 88, 11A, ex 1b).

A little exam´s review using the images posted in the blog a week ago.

Progress test
-----------------------
 Vocabulary:
Word shake
Work collocations (DVD)

 Listening:
SB: Page 88, 11A, ex: 2 a) b) (CD3)

 Homework:
WB: 11A: Page 55 and 56(just exercise 3)

Interactive English from The British Council!

Hello, everyone.
Here's a page to help you get your head out of the book. 

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/apps/learnenglish-audio-and-video

It's from The British Council, and it allows you to consult, practise, listen, read, watch videos or play games like the vocabulary game I've just been playing. You can use it on your phone too.
Try it, and let me know what you think.
Tom.

Class 10/04/15

In this class we did:

Speaking:

The best and the worst thing about our holidays.

SB p.87, Ex. 7

Listening:

SB p.67, Ex. 1, 2

DVD: Unit 5, review video, “Mick’s theory”. Unit 6, review video, “Polly gets nervous.”

Vocabulary:

SB p.88, Ex. 1

Review:

We reviewed these topics from units 9 and 10, using the WB: The passive. Like, as, such, such as, so. Making and responding to suggestions.

We reviewed the quantifiers with an auction.

Homework:

Study for our exam next Friday, the 17^th.

Free English film in CSIM on Friday at 16:00!

I've seen it, and I enjoyed it. I think you will too, and it's great for your English!

Inglés — "The Sapphires"

Proyección de la película, (musical-comedia-drama, Australia 2012) en VOS en inglés. 

Durante la Guerra de Vietnam de 1968, cuatro cantantes de una remota comunidad aborigen son descubiertas por un cazatalentos. Salen del anonimato y son bautizadas The Sapphires, la versión australiana del trío The Supremes, y las contratan para su primer concierto real – entretener a las tropas en Vietnam. Incluye actividad de introducción y de conversación al final de la proyección.

Entrada libre hasta completar el aforo. Viernes 10/04 - 16:00. Aula 404 / Facultad Filología A.

Review material for Progress Test II

Hello, everyone.

Here's the review material I mentioned in my email. 

The answers are at the bottom of the page, but upside down. I don't imagine you'll have any difficulty turning the pages around, but if you do, and you don't feel comfortable standing on your head, just let me know, and I'll post the answers separately.

Remember to bring your doubts and questions to class on Friday, and I'll do my best to answer them. See you there.

Tom.

CLASS 20.03.2015

Today in class we did:

Quantifiers´theory: SB page 83, ex. 3

Speaking:
Phrases using compound wors (adjectives and nouns).  SB Page 84 ex. 3

Vocabulary:
Compound nouns and adjectives, SB page 84

Grammar:
Adding emphasis, SB page 86 ex.3 and page 87 exercise 5.

Listening:
Video from  SB page 86 ex 2

Homework:
SB page 87, exercises 6 and 7.

Quantifiers chart.

We'll be looking at quantifiers this week, so here's a chart I hope will help clarify what can be quite a tricky topic.

QUANTIFIERS:

Followed by a SINGULAR noun	Followed by a PLURAL noun
Every /each / either / neither	Both /neither of /either of /any /all /none
Followed by a SINGULAR verb	Followed by a PLURAL verb
Everyone / every /no one / each / anything	All / both / neither / either / none
BOTH  singular and plural verbs possible
Neither of / none of / either of
SPECIAL POINTS TO MENTION
"no" is always followed by a noun "of" + article OR possessive, (Never:  "some of cars") "all" + article OR possessive (all of us, all about) but never alone:  all went wrong on the trip "each" – separate things:  study EACH sentence Smaller numbers:  EACH player has 4 cards "every":  how often:  there's a bus EVERY 10 minutes Any/no:  I haven't seen ANY STUDENTS today./I have seen NO STUDENTS today.

Class 13.03.15

In this class we did:

Review:
Household jobs. SB, P. 80, ex. 1 and 2.

Then, Tom returned us the progress test.

Listening:
SB, P. 80, ex. 3.

Grammar:
Have/get things done. SB, P. 81, ex. 4,6 and 7.

Speaking:
We used the homework ("It's up to you"): SB, P. 79, ex. 4b.

Vocabulary:
The youth of today. SB, P. 82, ex. 1.

Reading:
The youth of today. SB, P. 82, ex. 2.

Grammar:
Quantifiers: both, neither, all, etc. SB, P. 83, ex. 4 and 5.

Homework:
- SB, P. 81, ex. 8
- We have to record ourselves saying the sentences that Tom has put in the Blog and send him by mail. We also can find that sentences in the DVD: unit 10A (How practical are you), Listen and practise.

- We have to do the "follow-up questions" we have in the sheet of paper that Tom gave us, and send it him by mail before Wednesday, so we can use it in the next class.

P.S.: We have class on Friday, 20th as usual.

Pronunciation practice homework. For 20.3.15

Hi, everyone.
Here are the phrases we practised in class. 
Record them, and send them to my mail,, but remember, it's a speaking activity! Close your eyes when you're speaking, and your pronunciation will sound much more natural. Practise a few times to get the intonation right, then record, 
Enjoy.


Most of the time I get things done by professionals.

I get my husband to do most jobs round the house.

I usually have the decorating done professionally.

I do a lot of things myself.

I've had lots of things done recently.

There was a leak in the bathroom so I got that fixed.

Now I'm having the kitchen painted.

I'd never had my washing machine serviced before.

I'll get the glass replaced sometime this week.

Class 6.03.2015

Speaking

Phrases using AS, SUCH AS, LIKE, SO, SUCH A

Homonyms

Listening

SB, p.78 Ex. 1

SB, p. 78 Ex. 2 b, 2c.

Vocabulary

SB, p.78 Ex. 3 a-c.

SB, p.78 Ex. 4 b, 4c.

SB, p. 80 Ex. 1a, 1b.

Progress test

Homework

SB, p79 Ex. 4b, 4c

DVD: 9C “Missing words” (II) + “Homonyms”; 9D “Making + Responding”; 9 Review “The passive”.

Class 27.02.15

Class 27.02.15

WHAT WE DID IN THIS CLASS:

we saw everything from page 74 to page 77 (Student's book)

HOMEWORK:

WB: pages 47 and 48

REMEMBER WE WILL HAVE AN EXAM (UNIT 7 AND 8)!

Exam Friday 6.3.15

Hello, everyone.
This is to confirm our new exam date, next Friday, March 6th.
See you there.
Tom

Class 21.2.15

In this class we reviewed topics from units 7 & 8 using material posted on the blog, (see previous week's postings), as well as from the WB, and the Extra Practice and Language Summary  sections from the back of the SB. We also did tasks from units 7 & 8 of the DVD Rom.
 In the second session, we continued to work on the passive, completing p.73, and practising with the game, 'Passive dominoes.'
In 9B we studied Ex.1 ' Entertainment adjectives', and completed the practice activities.
Your homework is, of course, to study for our exam next Saturday, the 28th.

Exam review U.8

Hello again, folks.
Here's the second installment of review material. As I said in my last mail, this should only be part of your review for the exam. Make sure you cover all the points mentioned in the top right-hand corner of the page that opens each section, eg, p.56, 7A, includes Vocabulary: state verbs, Grammar: simple and continuous aspects...

If there's anything here you don't understand, make sure to ask about it in class.

Class 13.02.2015

Speaking:

Tell your partner about some of the things you’ve had to apologise for.

SB, p. 72 Ex. 1

SB, p. 72 Ex. 2

Listening:

SB, p. 70 Ex. 2

CD, 9 A The silver screen/ The passive (second one)

Grammar and Vocabulary:

SB, p. 70 Ex. 3

SB, p. 70 Ex. 4

SB, p. 72 Ex. 4

Writting:

SB, p. 71 Ex 5

Homework:

WB, p. 44 Ex. 1, 2

Progress test review

Hello, Everyone. Here's the first installment of your progress test review material. If you've read my last mail, you'll have seen my other suggestions, but if you haven't, do it now. 

Please bring this completed to class, or, if you can't make it to class, send it to me at the usual @ddress.

See you in class.

Exam review material.

Hello, everyone. I'm posting these pages from your student's book so that you'll be able to use them again without being influenced by the answers and corrections in your own copies. Other good sites for review and practise are your workbooks, the language summaries at the back of your book to clarify grammar doubts, and of course your DVD Rom which provides lots of activities and listenings. 

Progress test February 27th. / Longer classes.

Hello, everyone.

This is to let you all know that we'll have our first progress test on February 27th. It will be based on units 7 & 8, and will include grammar, vocabulary, listening & writing. It will not include reading. The progress test will take 80 minutes.

I also want to let you know that because of the number of classes lost to holidays, and as we started our course later than other groups, we now need to add thirty minutes to each session. These will be divided evenly before and after the coffee break.

I recommend the CD Rom at the back of your student's book for review, and I'll be happy to answer any questions or doubts you may have about the matereial covered in units 7 & 8 in our next class on February 13th.

See you in class.

Tom.

English courses in the 2º cuatrimestre.

Hello, everyone.
Here's the information you need if you, or someone you know, is interested in doing any of the courses the CSIM offers this second term.

http://www.ucm.es/data/cont/docs/80-2015-01-12-horarios2%C2%BActm2015.pdf

Thanks in advance for passing the information on to your contacts.

See you in class.

Tom.

Used to review

Hello, everyone. 

Here's a quick review of 'Used to' which I hope you'll find useful. There's an online activity at the bottom of the page which you can either start with, finish with, or both.

Used to, be used to, get used to

Used to: Used to shows that:

·         a particular thing always happened or was true in the past.

·         But it no longer happens or is no longer true now:

·         Examples: David used to live in Madrid.

·         She used to exercise every morning, but since she had that terrible accident she doesn't exercise anymore.

·         Why don't you come and see me like you used to?

Forms of used to: Here are the interrogative, affirmative and negative forms of used to

·         Did you use to exercise regularly? Yes, I used to go jogging nearly every day. No, I didn't use to exercise on a regular basis.

Used to, be used to, get used to

1.Used to shows that a particular thing always happened or was true in the past (see examples above)

2.Be used to is used to say that something is normal, not unusual.

Examples: I'm used to living alone.  Don't worry, John is used to driving for long hours. He has worked as a professional driver for 20 years.

3.Get used shows that something is in the process of becoming normal.

Examples: He doesn't like that small town, but he'll get used to it.

·         She found the heels too high, but she got used to them.

·         Since the divorce, she has become very sad. But I think she'll get used to her new life.

·         I got used to living in Canada in spite of the cold weather.

4. Get used to and be used to are followed by either a noun or a gerund.

                            Now check you've understood

                       http://www.eltbase.com/quiz/076_01.htm

Friday the 30th, no class!

On Friday the 30th. the Complutense closes in honour of Saint Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of students, (that's you). 
As a result, we won't have class on Friday 30th, nor the following Friday, since there are no classes at all in the first week of February. 
I know you'll miss your English classes terribly, but because there are so many university exams during this week the CSIM suspends all its classes. 
So, I'll see you next Friday, the 23rd, and our following class will be Friday the 13th. I'm afraid the inauspicious date is not sufficient excuse for extending your break.
See you Friday.
Tom.