Our buggy moral code

Hi guys,

Just a link to a very compelling TED talk we saw (only at some of the classes, though) about irracionalities... and on cheating while saving face :)

The English is pretty clear and understandable, and subtitles are available. Have a go!!!

New Year Resolutions

Hi Guys,

Just the links to the show we watched about gadgets to help you stick with your resolutions: Solutions to Resolutions

and a humorous song about the attitudes towards resolutions: Resolutions song

English Central - Pronunciation Tutor

Hi guys,

Here is the link to the pronunciation training website I was showing you a few days ago: http://www.englishcentral.com

There are plenty of videos, at several levels of difficulty, that you can watch and read along, with subtitles and a voice recording option. The tutor then highlights the faulty bits in your pronunciation and let´s you compare it to the native model (full words, or even sound by sound, if you click on any particular word).

Also, there are other working modes like quizzes and so on, that you should explore. In all, This is a very useful kind of work that unfortunately we cannot really do at class.

My suggestion is that you spend some 20-30 minutes a week with this. And, of course, to keep on listening to at least 2 hours of other materials like movies, news, podcasts...

Happy talking!

TED - Ideas Worth Spreading

Hi guys,

This is the website I told you about the other day: www.ted.com. A great resource for video in English with subtitles, on a range of very interesting topics. As they say "riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world".

It usually takes them a few weeks to make the subtitles available after they first publish the talk. So, if you really want them, go for talks which are at least a few months old --they are just as good.

Notice that the full transcript is also accessible at once (top right link). It's a great exercise to work on it after watching the video for a first time. It's also great to read along with the speaker, the second time you watch.

Find the short talk by Stacey Kramer that we watched the other day bellow, or on this link.

CNN Student News

Hi guys,

Are you putting in your hours? Of English language listening and reading, what else?... nope? uhh, I figured.

This website http://edition.cnn.com/studentnews/ is a great resource for real American English. Just 10 minutes of American and world news everyday, and they even provide the transcript so you can read it afterwards. Another great exercise that takes just 5 minutes.

I am not saying you should watch it everyday, but every other day for sure! 15 minutes twice a week can go a long way. It's a healthy habit!

The one we saw on Friday class and its transcript are here.

The Empathic Civilization

Hi guys,

This is something I saw the other day and I thought you may like it. It's real English, talking on real life topics and events, so it's a bit hard. We've seen it in some of the advanced levels, but it may be interesting for all of you.

Also, if you watch it and then want to read the transcript and re-watch it, you can find it here: Transcript
To watch it full screen, click on the rightmost icon of bottom bar.

English out of the classroom: Theater in Madrid & trip to Dublin

Hi guys,

A couple of announcements with stuff to help you move forward with your English!

Christmas Pantomime by The Madrid Players. On Friday December, 10th, for just 6€ with the discount price for the school! A pantomime (Brit.)  is "a theatrical entertainment involving music, topical jokes, and slapstick comedy, usually produced around Christmas". It's a classic in the English community in Madrid, they've been doing it for ages. Tickets are going fast, if you are interested you need to bring the 6€ to class by Thursday, November 4th.



School trip to Dublin. From March 31st to April 3rd. The final price depends on total demand, but it's estimated at about 400€. There is a list going round where you can sign in if you are interested. Let us know! It doesn't express a commitment, but a serious willingness. Once the final price is known, a deadline for your last word and payment will be set.

I don't think I'll be going myself but as far as I know, Luis, who taught many of you last year, will.