ON CLOUD NINE: 2015

Wednesday, 23 December 2015

Sunday, 20 December 2015

Tuesday, 15 December 2015

IF HE FITS THE BILL...

Photocopies from 14th December

Links to information about reports:
● http://www.slideshare.net/sergeiG/how-to-write-a-report

● http://www.slideshare.net/himanshu879/report-writting?related=2

● http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/ltd/campus/reportwr.pdf

● http://www.usingenglish.com/files/pdf/business-english-reports-phrases.pdf
● http://fce-writing-nadeen.blogspot.com.es/2011/11/writing-report-3.html

● http://www.autoenglish.org/writing/report.pdf
● http://www.uefap.com/writing/genre/report.htm

Links to information and examples of cover letters:
● http://susanireland.com/job-lounge/sample-cover-letter-to-recruiter-for-audit-associate/
● http://www.quintcareers.com/cover-letter-mistakes/
● http://www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/law/career/pdfs/handouts/How_to_Write_a_Cover_Letter_2009.pdf
● http://www.lls.edu/media/loyolalawschool/careerservices/pdfs-resources/Cover%20Letter%20Dos%20and%20Donts%20Current%20Students.pdf

Friday, 11 December 2015

Saturday, 5 December 2015

take a toll (on...) also take its toll to cause destruction, harm, deaths or suffering; to have a bad effect on someone or something, especially over a long period of time:
Divorce takes its toll on the children involved.
The stress was starting to take its toll on him.
The deepening recession has also taken its toll in the south of the country, where unemployment is rife.

Photocopies from 3rd December

Wednesday, 2 December 2015

BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT

Reasonable doubt is a standard of proof used in criminal trials. When a criminal defendant is prosecuted, the prosecutor must prove the defendant's guilt Beyond a Reasonable Doubt. If the jury—or the judge in a bench trial—has a reasonable doubt as to the defendant's guilt, the jury or judge should pronounce the defendant not guilty. Conversely, if the jurors or judge have no doubt as to the defendant's guilt, or if their only doubts are unreasonable doubts, then the prosecutor has proven the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and the defendant should be pronounced guilty.

Photocopies from 1st December

Listening activity:
PART 1- questions & audio
PART 2- questions & audio
PART 3- questions & audio

Transcripts: PART 1 PART 2 PART 3

Friday, 27 November 2015

GOING INTO HEAT

Photocopies from 24th November
Photocopies from 26th November

Friday, 20 November 2015

THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS

evil /ˈiːvəl/ adj

1. Profoundly immoral and wicked:

His evil deeds No man is so evil as to be beyond redemption

2. (of a force or spirit) embodying or associated with the forces of the devil:

We were driven out of the house by an evil spirit

3. Harmful or tending to harm:

The evil effects of high taxes

4. (of a smell or sight) extremely unpleasant: A bathroom with an ineradicably evil smell

evil /ˈiːvəl/ noun

1. Profound immorality and wickedness, especially when regarded as a supernatural force:

His struggle against the forces of evil

2. A manifestation of this wickedness, especially in people’s actions:

I implore the May Day protesters to worry about real problems, rather than just labelling everything as an evil of capitalism.

3. Something which is harmful or undesirable:

Sexism, racism, and all other unpleasant social evils
(http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/evil)

The lesser of two evils

The lesser of two evils principle (or lesser evil principle) is the principle that when faced with selecting from two unpleasant options, the one which is least harmful should be chosen. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_of_two_evils_principle)

Photocopies from 19th November

Audios:
- FBI Investigating Shots Fired At Connecticut Mosque
- White House To Appeal Immigration Ruling To Supreme Court

Wednesday, 18 November 2015

FLYING AT HALF MAST

Photocopies from 17th November

Friday, 13 November 2015

GIVE THE SALAD A GOOD TOSS

to toss [...]

3. To mix (food) lightly so as to cover with dressing or sauce: toss a salad.

[...]

5. To flip (coins) in order to decide an issue.

toss noun an act or instance of tossing.

Photocopies from 12th November
Weird court sentences

Video 1_unusual sentences
Video 2_more about Judge Michael A. Cicconetti:

ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos

Ted Talks:
- wrong convictions
- prisons / African prisons
- fighting crime in a creative way / prevention and education / using our practical wisdom
- gun violence
- legal but forbidden / when you shouldn't follow the rules

Friday, 6 November 2015

BLOW YOUR HORN

If you blow your own horn, you boast about your achievements and abilities. ('Blow your own trumpet' is an alternative form. (http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms)

photocopies from 5th November

listening test: audio

Wednesday, 4 November 2015

STEM THE TIDE

to stem the tide (of...) stop the course of a trend or tendency. To stop something bad which is happening a lot. To stop something from increasing

Photocopies from 3rd November

Sunday, 1 November 2015

ON THE WANE

on the wane in a state of decline; becoming less strong, powerful, popular, etc.:; becoming weaker, less vigorous, or less extensive

There are signs that support for the group is on the wane.

The epidemic was on the wane

Test 29th October 2015
Answer key
Listening activities:
audio 1
audio 2
audio 3
audio 4

Wednesday, 28 October 2015

Across the pond

THE POND

In modern times, some idioms refer to the Atlantic Ocean in a humorously diminutive way as the Pond, describing both the geographical and cultural divide between North America and Europe, in particular between the English-speaking nations of both continents. Many Irish or British people refer to the United States and Canada as "across the pond", and vice versa.

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

ACROSS THE POND

(idiomatic) On or to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

We flew across the pond.

The latest Woody Allen movie was very popular on both sides of the pond. It was praised by critics and popular among cinemagoers.

Many American actors are starring in plays in London's West End. But this is Shakespeare’s territory and I think the best theatre is still on our side of the pond!

Photocopies from Tuesday 27th October

Thursday, 22 October 2015

MAKING A KILLING

make a killing informal to earn a lot of money in a short time and with little effort:

They made a killing with the sale of their London house.

photocopies from 22nd October

watch a short video about the axolotl
watch a long video about the axolotl

Wednesday, 21 October 2015

GOD FORBID!

God forbid (also Heaven forbid)

a way of saying that you hope something does not happen:
God forbid (that) his parents should ever find out.

Photocopies from 20th October: 1 & 2

Saturday, 17 October 2015

FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE

walk of life a person's job or position in society. BACKGROUND:
She has friends from all walks of life

photocopies from 15th October

listening test
audio 1
audio 2
Product of Mexico_the series

Wednesday, 14 October 2015

DON'T SUGARCOAT THE TRUTH, PLEASE

to sugarcoat to make (something difficult or distasteful) appear more pleasant or acceptable
There was no way to sugarcoat the bad news

Photocopies from 13th October

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

TOUCH WOOD

touch wood UK (US knock on wood) informal said in order to avoid bad luck, either when you mention good luck that you have had in the past or when you mention hopes you have for the future:

The deal will be agreed on Wednesday, touch wood.

(Definition from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus© Cambridge University Press)

Photocopies from 6th October

Thursday, 1 October 2015

TO WORK FOR PEANUTS

peanuts [plural] (informal) a very small amount of money

(Taken from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/)

audio transcript

Photocopies from 29th September
Photocopies from 1st October

Video: Creature Comforts: Working Animals

Friday, 25 September 2015

WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN

It does exactly what it says on the tin

It does exactly what it says on the tin was originally an advertising slogan in the United Kingdom, which then became a common idiomatic phrase meaning "the name describes exactly what it is". "As advertised. What it says on the product's packaging."

Used for saying that someone or something is exactly what they seem to be, with no hidden qualities,aims, etc.

Used for anything whose name or title is self-explanatory.

Used to say that something is as good or effective as it claims to be, or that it really does what it claims to do. This expression is especially used when you are comparing publicity and advertisements with actual products.

The Erotic Art Museum does exactly what it says on the tin: presents erotic art...

https://youtu.be/zR2Ox4HWaXM

http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/ronseal-claims-ditch-does-exactly-says-tin-strapline/1343142

Photocopies from 24th September: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Nb3d84W0THS3Y0bU9IWWhJa2c/view?usp=sharing
video on zero-hour contracts: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-19263787

Wednesday, 23 September 2015

ZERO-HOUR CONTRACTS

zero-hour contracts

Under such contracts, an employee is only paid for the hours the employer needs them. Employees agree to make themselves available for work as and when required – frequently on very short-notice-, but have no guaranteed hours or shift patterns.The employee is expected to be on call and receives compensation only for hours worked.

The employer typically asserts that they have no obligation to provide work for the employee.

“Zero-hours contracts: a post-modern form of slavery”

Bart Cammaerts, Associate Professor and Director of PhD Programme in the Media and Communications Department at the London School of Economics.

Photocopies from 22nd September: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Nb3d84W0THNFk5ZVdSSnZlTEk/view?usp=sharing

Monday, 25 May 2015

HUNKY-DORY

Photocopies from 21st May: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Nb3d84W0THbUo0TDBhakFYLVU/view?usp=sharing

Green is great_ cutting-edge work in research and education: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/britain-great-episodes/green-great

Reports:
http://www.gcu.ac.uk/student/coursework/reports/

http://www.gcu.ac.uk/student/coursework/reports/howareportdiffersfromanessay/

http://writingeoi.blogspot.com.es/p/report.html

Reports vs essays

http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/OffCampus/Improve/9.12.html

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/media/wwwlboroacuk/content/library/downloads/advicesheets/report%20writing.pdf

Thursday, 14 May 2015

THAT TAKES THE BISCUIT!

That takes the biscuit informal

You say that something or someone (really) takes the biscuit (BrE) when it or they have done something that you find extremely annoying or surprising:
And you say she's opening your letters now? Oh, that really takes the biscuit!

(AmE that takes the cake)

(Taken from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/diccionario/britanico/that-really-takes-the-biscuit)

Photocopy from 12th May: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Nb3d84W0THSDBOQ3ZTc01JdDQ/view?usp=sharing

Link to some more information about complaint letters: http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Complaint-Letter-to-a-Company
Link to information about reviews -and other types of writing, for that matter. It was Oscar who found this site. Thank you!!!: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/book-reviews/

Thursday, 7 May 2015

GOLDEN WATTLE

Did you know that the golden wattle, a type of acacia tree, is a symbol, an emblem of Australia?
I didn't!!! I only learnt it when I read that the newborn princess Charlotte Elisabeth Diana has received "a cot blanket made of merino wool from Tasmania with embroidered wattle" as a gift from the Australian people.

This year we are learning a lot of things about Australia's fauna and flora!!! Bilbies, wombats, echidnas, pigmy possums, etc.

http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/aust.emblem.html

Anyway, here are the photocopies from 7th May: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Nb3d84W0THcUFQRkRqVmhUZjA/view?usp=sharing

Links to websites with information about writing REVIEWS:
  http://www.slideshare.net/rrrosaco/writing-a-review
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english/creativewriting/movingimagesrev2.shtml
  http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/writing-film-book-review.php
http://www.xtec.cat/~vfeliu/writing/revi3.htm

http://english-tonight.com/esl-writing-activity-review-of-a-book-or-movie-in-english/

http://www.eltbase.com/quiz/303_01.htm

Listen to Muriel Spark talking about The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/bc/bc_20040801-1600b.mp3
Listen to this programme about Christopher Isherwood in Berlin: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00f9y25
Don Bachardy on Christopher Isherwood: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00v3mb1
Listen to David Mitchell on an interview in 2007: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007mdcg

Wednesday, 6 May 2015

IN THE LOOP

Photocopies from 5th May: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Nb3d84W0THcWVzTlF4VVZ0Y0U/view?usp=sharing

Transcript_The book I would never lend: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Nb3d84W0THUjFuV3pYX25Zc2c/view?usp=sharing
Transcript_Student's book-2.18-2.23: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Nb3d84W0THM2xvUTd3Q3hWZVk/view?usp=sharing

video 1_tarsier: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Tarsier#p006jq6v

video 2_tarsier: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Tarsier#p00bkrzw
video 3_tarsier: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8404000/8404535.stm

Expressions_finger on the pulse: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2013/03/130326_tews_116_finger_on_the_pulse.shtml
Expressions_work for peanuts: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/worldservice/tae/tae_20111219-1200a.mp3
Expressions_by the skin of my teeth: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/worldservice/tae/tae_20120903-1200a.mp3
Expressions_face the music: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/worldservice/tae/tae_20141216-1000a.mp3

Friday, 1 May 2015

JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON

climb/jump on the bandwagon (informal, disapproving) to join others in doing sth that is becoming fashionable because you hope to become popular or successful yourself.