Interesting links to keep learning English at home

How is your English going lately?

Do you devote time to studying and revising it? Do you actually use it? Today I'm bringing you some useful webpages for you to keep learning English on your own. Three years ago I wrote another post with fun resources for you to keep learning English and now it's time for an update!!

From: http://autoenglishlearning.blogspot.com/2015/04/8-great-websites-to-learn-english.html

1. Webpages to improve your listening skill

Other than the webpages I mentioned in my previous post, namely Listen a Minute; Esl-lab; and ESL Video, today I'm bringing you other webpages that will help you become a solid listener!

- 6 minutes English / BBC Learning English: This webpage is ideal if you're in the intermediate level. You have short extracts of videos and programmes talking about a specific issue and showing you some vocabulary on the way. You can download the transcript and the audio and listen to it as many times as you want. On top of that, there are countless topics! You'll learn a lot!

- Vaughan radio: Have you heard of Vaughan method? This method actively prompts you to speak English by means of different questions. In Madrid, you can listen to Vaughan radio while you are driving your car or cooking. You can even watch it on TV! If you're not in Madrid you can listen to in on the link provided. There are various types of programmes that cover the different levels, so don't miss them!

- Podcasts in English: In this webpage, you'll have access to hundreds and hundreds of interesting podcasts that you can download for free! However, if you want to practise with listening or vocabulary exercises you 'll have to pay membership. Anyway, a good opportunity to access unlimited listening material. 

TED talks: I presume you know what TED talks are since they are so popular nowadays. A person delivers a speech on an interesting topic in front of an audience. As simple as that! There are TED talks on a wide range of topics, so I'm sure you'll get to learn new things on your way to learning English!

- Https://learningenglish.voanews.com/: In this recommended webpage, you'll have access to tons of news items with their tapescripts. You can even practise your listening skills with some quizzes that will put your listening to a test!

2. English reading
Other than The Big Project, where you'll be able to read thousands of newspapers across the globe, and La Mansión del Inglés with hundreds of readings and audio-books, you have some other sources of reading across the Internet: 

- CNN News: In this webpage, you'll get instant access to breaking news in the US, so you'll stay tuned with one of the most influential countries in the world! There are videos, so you'll get to practise your listening as well. 

- El País en inglés: If you are fed up with reading newspapers in the UK and in the US, well,...suffer not, for you can also read Spanish newspapers in English. In this case, one of Spain's most renown paper, no other than El País. Enjoy its pages and news...in your favourite foreign language.

- Reuters: If you're into financial and politics, then  Reuters is definitely your site! Browse through its endless news and watch some of its videos to practise your listening skill!

3. English vocabulary
Vocab is very important when you're learning a new language. However, learning simple words is not enough. Once your English level is up, you'll have to learn idioms and expressions. Here you have two webpages that will help you master these expressions:

- https://www.theidioms.com/: This site offers a selection of the most used idioms sorted out by topic: idioms of food, idioms of violence, idioms of the body, animal idioms, colour idioms, idioms related to numbers,...

- http://www.phrasemix.com/collections:  This webpage is similar to the previous one, but it doesn't deal with idioms, but, rather, with phrases that you can use in different situations, e.g. in a job interview. Can't miss it!

4. Speaking 

- English with Jo: This website is arranged in different topics. The lesson starts with a video, then you receive some suitable vocabulary to speak about the topic and finally some questions related to the topic so that you can have a conversation. Ideal to practise your speaking before an exam!

5. Writing

- Dictations online: In this site, you'll hear some dictations according to your level of English and you'll have to write just what you listen to. At the end, you'll see the tapescript of the text. Ideal to practise your orthography! 

6. General webpages:

There are sites like isabelperez.com that offer wide amterial so that you can practise your English in the different skills.

- One of my favourites is the British Council webpage, which has everything for you, from grammar and vocabulary to podcasts sorted in different levels. Totally a must!

Well, I hope you have enjoyed my selection of  webpages. Let me remind you that I have created some very interesting sites myself so that you can practise your English, for example, Learning English EOI, the blog that I've been using with my students of language school for the last three years; English Calisto y Melibea, the blog I used with my students of high-school in the year 2015-2016; Listen 2 English, for you to practise your listening according to your level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages; and Grammaring with English, my webpage so that you can practise your grammar autonomously. 

I hope that from now on, you use these sites to keep advancing with your English!

The best compositions of the month: Omar Mesa's and Sergio Tolosa's

 
Dear students of B2.2,
I have finally corrected all your writings and now it's time to reflect on them. As usual, I like to share with you two impressive pieces of writing written by two of you, in this case, Omar Mesa and Sergio Tolosa. Enjoy them and try to have a look at their ideas for you to incorporate them to your own writings. 

 How to manage the European development fund (by Sergio Tolosa; B2.2 19.00)

Nowadays, the European Union is frequently creating and sharing development funds ensuring that money is spent transparently and responsibly. But, are these funds worthwhile for a town’s development?

First and foremost, I will give you a brief description of Coslada: my hometown is a  friendly city close to Madrid of approximately 100.000 inhabitants. It has a large amount of social areas, such as parks, cinemas, theaters, schools, etc. which improve and enrich the quality of life of their people. 

However, contrary to what some people may believe, Coslada should be easily adaptable to incorporate new habits. For example, it’s necessary to create electrical public transport stations in order to move around the city renting a bike or a car. Besides, schools should adapt technology in their classrooms as a new concept of education, as well as impart lessons in Spanish and English equally.

To sum up, I would like to give my personal opinion and some tips in order to leverage these funds. Despite Coslada being a modernized city, it has been left behind in comparison to other cities. Furthermore, I think a European fund is not necessary to improve some it, as some measures can already be taken, such us introducing original version in cinemas, television and theaters. Last but not least, I’m in favor of these European funds, as they give an extra power to the cities to achieve these goals,  unattainable on their own means.

 My town (by Omar Mesa; B2.2 19.00)

My town does not have a wide variety of services and places as big cities could have, but we can rejoice in several areas that we have, which provide us with endless enjoyment.  

This scarce diversity is not necessarily petty, for instance, our town has a great park known as "the Pine Wood" because of the amount of pines you can find there. Other than its numerous paths, the Pine Wood is not just a place to take a stroll at. A few years ago, there was a falconry exhibition, which was incredibly successful. 

Moreover, we have buildings allocated to artistic disciplines, such as music, dance, paint, photography and drama, among others, where every person interested in them can significantly improve their skills. 

Finally, I would like to mention a few other places before I change my subject. My town has a theatre, a quaint library, a host of varied restaurants, a cinema, several shopping centres and even a marvellous hotel, among other things. 

However, there are some downsides too. It is widely known that some parts in my hometown are neglected, especially some very narrow streets with little room for cars. They become impassable because of the heavy traffic in Coslada. Furthermore,  our street "artists" tend to express their art on the walls, but it's not always must-see art. Lastly, I would like to point out at yet another worrying fact: the filth that is invading our streets: cans, bottles, wrappers, plastic bags... Our town needs cleaning. 

I think the investment from the European development fund should be wisely invested in making our town more comfortable and clean, and also in supporting art. This is why I would allocate part of the money to our schools of art, because I do think we need to foster the knowledge of art among the youngsters, and, last but not least, part of the fund should definitely be invested in education, focusing on high schools and primary schools.

Well, if you likes your classmates' essays, leave a comment!

Possessive adjectives and Saxon-genitive exercises

Dear students of A2.2,
here you have the links to some exercises to practise the grammar that we saw in class:

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES:
https://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-possessive-adjectives.php

https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/pronouns/possessive_determiners2.htm

https://www.english-4u.de/en/grammar-exercises/possessive-adjectives.htm

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/pronouns/exercises?03

SAXON-GENITIVE STRUCTURE ('S)

https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/nouns_articles/apostrophe_s2.htm 

https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/nouns_articles/apostrophe_s3.htm

 https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/beginner/a_grammar/file02/grammar02_b01?cc=global&selLanguage=en

https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/nouns_articles/apostrophe_s.htm

https://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-1/exercise-english-135.php

Used to- would exercises

Dear students,
here you have some self-correctable exercises dealing with 'used to' and 'would' to express habitual actions in the past:

 https://www.examenglish.com/grammar/used_to_would.htm

https://elt.oup.com/student/solutions/upperint/grammar/grammar_02_012e?cc=global&selLanguage=en

http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar/3g11-used-to-would.php 

https://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-26230.php

Couchsurfing

Listen to the video and try to understand what couchsurfing is. 

The Simpsons' family tree

My family

Dear students,
now that we're seeing the topic of family in class, I think it's a very good idea that I introduce my family to you. Pay attention to this presentation:



Now write about your family!!