Language errors and mistakes

As you want me to explain how to write a good essay or composition in English, I've decided to start a document for that purpose. I mean, here's your language errors and mistakes' record, so that you can have a look at it before you hand in your next piece of writing, no matter the type of writing text you produce. You must always make sure that there's no mistake whatsoever. Ok, then, so please remember that practice makes perfect and the more you write, the better writer you'll become. Enjoy your English!

Better late than never

At last I could find the time to scan the solutions for the Reading and grammar textbook exercises. Sorry for the delay. I’m a very busy teacher. However, here are the solutions for you check up your notebooks. I hope you can find some time to correct your answers, so that you can keep your English up. Well, I reckon that sometimes it’s a bit like the English saying: “Better late than never”, isn’t it?

How to hit the nail on the head

Do you exactly know how to study for your exams? If you don't, here are some useful tips to hit the nail on the head in your next English TESTS.

Firstly, let's respond the most typical students' question right before any exam: "Profe, qué entra en el examen?" or in English, "What will the exam be like?" Well, you know what: you'd better have a look at the first two pages of your textbook more often. There you'll find all the exam contents. They are normally classified into different skills like grammar, vocabulary, speaking, pronunciation, writing, reading & listening. However, please try not to procrastinate too much, simply because you can't learn all the vocabulary and assimilate every grammatical content in just a few days. So, organize your own time and daily work, so that you make sure that you've got plenty of language practice before the exam. Classroom practice is not enough for you to get most of the answers right in the exams. Therefore, please set some time for your own language practice and study at home, early enough to feel yourself confident to get the best results as possible.

Secondly, make sure that you are perfectly familiar with the number of questions and the way the questions will be like and that you understand all the instructions of every single activity. Here's your last exam, its key and the audio as well. Finally, good luck, please don't lose your time and enjoy your English.

Travel broadens the mind

They say that travel broadens the mind. In Spanish: "los viajes amplían los horizontes" and I think this is true. When you travel, you meet new people and new cultures and so, you can share new experiences and ideas, especially if you travel abroad. Today we've started a trip in class. You could go to almost everywhere, if you use your imagination and why not, learning English as you go along. Here are some words to begin with.

Let's role-play

Today is the Speaking day! Yes, why not? If you look for the meaning of role-play, you'll find that this means "hacer teatro improvisado" in Spanish. And you know what: I think we could role-play all day long and so we'll probably become more confident as we speak in English. Therefore, there's no time to lose. Here are two role-plays for you to put your English into practice.

WebQuest: A Fresh Start

TASK

Firstly, the Board of Directors has entrusted you and your team to build a brand new music festival. Your festival should represent the personalities of you and your team. Below are listed the requirements for your music festival.

REQUIREMENTS

Activity 1: A Fresh Start

1. You must think about an original name for the festival. [Resources:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_music_festivals ]

2. You must select a duration of the festival. [Resources:http://matadornetwork.com/nights/how-to-prepare-for-a-summer-music-festival/  ]

 
3. You must pick up a geographical location. [Resources:http://maps.google.es/maps?hl=en&tab=ml ]

WebQuest: A low-budget production

Secondly, a  Board of Directors has entrusted you and your team to build a brand new music festival. Your festival should represent the personalities of you and your team. Below are listed the requirements for your music festival. 

REQUIREMENTS

Activity 2: A low-budget production

1. You must choose at least three different sponsors, keeping in mind the limited budget. [Resources: http://findasponsor.com/music-sponsorship.html ,  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10120490]

2. You must select what merchandise (other than band shirts) you wish to sell. This merchandise must also appeal to your target market. [Resources: http://readingandleedsfestival.firebrandstore.com/, http://www.ultramerchandise.com/home.php, http://www.ehow.com/way_5210022_event-marketing-ideas.html, http://www.campuscustoms.com/ifai/ ]

3. You must decide on no fewer than 15 musical acts to play at your festival. [Resources: http://www.musicals101.com/alphinde.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists ]


 

WebQuest: A Music Festival

TASK

  Finally, this is just to remind you of the fact that a  Board of Directors has entrusted you and your team to build a brand new music festival. Your festival should represent the personalities of you and your team. Below are listed the requirements for your music festival. 

 

REQUIREMENTS

Activity 3: Promoting the Festival

1. You must set a ticket price. You are allowed to sell both a standard festival pass, a single day pass, and a VIP pass (make sure you stipulate what will be included with the VIP pass). [Further info: http://www.wychwoodfestival.com/tickets/ ,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_festival ]

2. You must make a promotional poster that will be distributed to radio stations, record labels, etc. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_of_Santa_Cruz_de_Tenerife#Promotional_posters ,https://www.andersondesigngroupstore.com/portfolio-posters.html]




3. The completed project will take the form of a presentation made to the Board of Directors during class. Your presentation must include audio and visual elements.

Feedback and assessment

Please feel free to share your comments using the commentary box below. After viewing all presentations, you must vote along with the rest of the Board on which team will receive the start-up money. In order to vote, please follow the following link:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1-n8gyQd1ZBYTA5N2ViYjQtMDAxZS00MjQ0LWE4ZTctN2YxZTE0YmVjNzg1

This is end of the WebQuest. I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have, specially all over its creation. 

Teacher's notes, objectives and sources: https://sites.google.com/site/musicalfestivals/

Be careful with the cat!

Let's now put a good example to understand the last post on Stop and think. Animals also think before they move or walk. Today we've got a cat and a goldfish in its tank. Before we play the video, what do you think the cat will do with the goldfish? Please, Stop and think before saying the answer.

Stop and think

As you can read through the  post entitled

Welcome to this language blog  below,  here we'll spend some time thinking about English learning. As you are speaking in English, you don't normally translate from your mother tongue what you're trying to say to someone, because this means a lot of time and the other person is waiting and listening to you. So, before you speak, please Stop and Think.