Animals

Asking for a refund

Asking for a refund from Ana Arias Castro

Vocabulary related to the human body

Fruit

British trivia activitiees for EFL classes

Basic Christmas Trivia from Ana Arias Castro

Christmas Trivia Game from Ana Arias Castro

Keep your English alive this summer

Now our school year is over we have to start thinking of how to keep our English alive.

1. If you have failed, you should follow the directions given in class and write to your teacher if you need.
2. If you have passed English this year there are many ways of keeping it alive without having to study grammar or read thick books during the summer. These are some of the  things you can do:

• Listen to songs in English, read the lyrics and maybe even sing along. There are many websites where you can find the lyrics of your favourite songs in English.
• Watch our favourite TV programmes and films in English and even read the subtitles in English. this is a good option if we can't grasp much of what is being said.
• Watch YouTube videos in English with subtitles also in English.
• There is an interesting website where you can find short audio files to practise your English, audio-lingua.eu. Just choose levels A1 or A2.
• Read the news in English. Many newspapers have an interesting and easy to read website if we are learning English: USA Today, BBC English, Time, Newsweek, New York Times, etc. or choose a specific newspaper for English language learners, such as News in Levels.
• If you want to do some practice work without really studying you can go to the British Council website:
• Listening audios about different topics. You can do the tasks after listening and you can also read the scripts.
• Reading texts about a variety of topics. They are classified according to their level of difficulty: A2, B1, B2, etc. At the end of each story there are some tasks and you can also get a downloadable version.
• Vocabulary, you can read about some topics and then do some vocabulary activities.
• And there are also other sections you might have a look at: grammar, writing, videos...
• Try Duolingo to learn English or any other language on your own.
• And finally, just pay attention of whatever you see around. There are lots of notices, instruction booklets, etc. in English and you can certainly understand more than you problably think.

1st and 2nd type conditional sentences

1st and 2nd type conditional sentences

ZERO TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING& USE

The zero conditional is used to make statements about the real world, and often refers to general truths, such as scientific facts. In these sentences, the time is the present or always and the situation is real and possible.

• If you heat water, it boils.
• Water boils if you heat it.
• When you heat ice, it melts.
• Ice melts when you heat it.
• If it snows, the grass gets white.
• The grass gets white if it snows.
• When it rains, the grass gets wet.
• The grass gets wet when it rains.

FORM

We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and one in the 'main clause'):

If/when/unless + present simple, .... present simple.

EXERCISES

• Perfect English

1ST TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING & USE
The first conditional is also called the "real" conditional because it is used for real, or possible, situations. These situations take place if a certain condition is met.

In the first conditional we can salso use unless, which means "if... not". In other words, "... unless he hurries up" could also be written, "... if he doesn't hurry up."

1st type conditional sentence

• If it rains, we will stay at home.
• He will arrive late unless he hurries up.
• Sophie will buy a new car, if she gets her raise.

FORM
The first conditional is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma and a future simple verb (will + infinitive) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses.

• If he finishes on time, we will go to the movies.

OR

• We will go to the movies if he finishes on time.

EXERCISES

• exercise 1- Ego4you
• exercise 2- Ego4you
• exercise 3- Englisch Hilfen: statements
• exercise 4- Englisch Hilfen: negatives
• exercise 5- Englisch Hilfen: mixed
• exercise 6- Englisch Hilfen: mixed-two blanks
• exercise 7- ESL Partyland
• exercise 8- Isabel Pérez matching exercise
• exercise 9- English Exercises
• exercise 10- First English
• exercise 11- English Grammar
• exercise 12: Perfect English

This sheet contains a summary of first, second and third type conditional sentences.

2nd TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING

2nd type conditional sentence

The second conditional is used to talk about situations or actions in the present or future which are not likely to happen or are imaginary, hypothetical or impossible.

• If I were a rich woman, I would travel around the world. I think it is very unlikely that I will be rich. However, in this unlikely condition, I will travel around the world.
• If I weren't / wasn't watching TV now, I would be playing tennis. I am watching TV, but I am imagining an alternative activity I would be doing if I wasn't watching TV
• If you had a bigger dog, your house would be protected. You don't have a big dog, but I am imagining how protected you would be if you had one.
• If I were an alien, I would be able to travel around the universe. It is impossible for me to be an alien. However, I am imagining what I would do in this situation.
• We would go to Paris this summer if we passed all our subjects. That is our plan but, unfortunatelly,  we know we are not going to pass all our subjects.

FORM

If + past simple + conditional (would)

Conditional (would) + if + past simple

Verb be is usually were for all subjects; was (1st & 3rd person) is colloquial.

SONGS

If I were a rich man (Fiddler in the Roof-movie)

If today was your last day (Nickleback)

If I were a boy (Beyonce)

EXERCISES

- from Isabel Pérez

- Englisch-hilfen.de 1

- Englisch-hilfen.de 2

- Englisch-hilfen.de 3

- Englisch-hilfen.de 4

- Englisch-hilfen.de 5
- Perfect English Grammar

- Malted ESO-4 unit 7 (Gwineth and the Wizard)

FIRST AND SECOND TYPE CONDITIONALS

• Exercise 1: unit 5 in your text book
• Exercise 2: write the correct verb forms (1st & 2nd type conditionals)
• Exercise 3: Englisch Hilfen
• Exercise 4: Englisch Hilfen
• Exercise 5: Ego4you
• Exercise 6: Ego4you
• Exercise 7: Ego4you-with auxiliary verbs
• Exercise 8. First English
• Exercise 9: English for you
• Exercise 10: ESL lounge
• Exercise 11: Edu GE
• Exercise 12: Speak Speak
• Exercise 13: English exercises
• Exercise 14: English Area

Passive sentences

Passive structures from Ana Arias Castro

English sounds

Phonemes of the international phonetic alphabet used in English

If you are interested in learning the phonetic symbols of the English language, the BBC Learning English webside provides a good chart that summarizes them and that can be downloadable in a pdf version.

When trying to learn the sounds it is always a good idea to have a good chart with all the sounds.

Pronunciation tips - BBC learning English

However, this website provides many other useful sections such as an introduction, the sounds of English, features of English, quizzes and programmes. Most of the texts and audio files can be downloaded so that you can continue your study work off line.

The sounds of English section concentrates on those which can be confused by speakers of other languages.

In sum, this is an excellent site to improve one's English.

Phonemes of the international phonetic alphabet used in English

If you are interested in learning the phonetic symbols of the English language, the BBC Learning English webside provides a good chart that summarizes them and that can be downloadable in a pdf version.

When trying to learn the sounds it is always a good idea to have a good chart with all the sounds.

Pronunciation tips - BBC learning English

However, this website provides many other useful sections such as an introduction, the sounds of English, features of English, quizzes and programmes. Most of the texts and audio files can be downloaded so that you can continue your study work off line.

The sounds of English section concentrates on those which can be confused by speakers of other languages.

In sum, this is an excellent site to improve one's English.

Johan Cristoph Denner

Johann Cristoph Denner from Ana Arias Castro

ESL Song: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"

Complete the song with vocabulary related to geographic features: mountain, valley, river,

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" lyrics

Ohhh

Ain't no __________ high

Ain't no __________ low

Ain't no river wide enough, baby

If you need me, call me

No matter where you are

No matter how far

Just call out my name

I'll be there in a hurry

You don't have to worry

'Cause baby,

There ain't no _________ high enough

Ain't no _________ low enough

Ain't no ___________ wide enough

To keep me from getting to you

Remember the day

I set you free

I told you

You could always count on me darlin'

And from that day on I made a vow

I'll be there when you want me

Some way, soooooome how

'Cause baby,

There ain't no __________ high enough

Ain't no ___________ low enough

Ain't no __________ wide enough

To keep me from getting to you

No wind (no wind) , no rain (no rain)

{Ohhhh..ooh ooh ooh}

My love is alive

Way down in my heart

Although we are miles apart

If you ever need a helping hand

I'll be there on the double

Just as fast as I can

Don't you know that

Ain't no __________ high enough

Ain't no __________ low enough

Ain't no __________ wide enough

To keep me from you

Ain't no __________ high enough

Ain't no __________ low enough

Ain't no __________ wide enough

To keep me from you

Don't you know that

There ain't no ___________ high enough

Ain't no __________ low enough

Ain't no __________ wide enough

To keep me from gettin' to you babe..

ain't no = there is no


More songs and activities for English as a Foreign Language students.

At the doctor's

This is an activity designed for ESO-1 and ESO-2 students:

At the doctor's from Ana Arias Castro

This is an activity designed for ESO-3 and ESO-4 students:

At the doctor's from Ana Arias Castro

Idiomatic pairs

Biography: La vecina rubia

La vecina rubia from Ana Arias Castro