​Hey everybody!  It was great to see you guys online this week, for a lot of us we can use our classes as a little piece of normalcy and an excuse to talk about something other than COVID 19 for an hour a week!  What a relief!

This week we played games together and talked about the value of play and games in our lives, both as children and as adults.

Listening:
Learners can try an activity from BBC 6 minute English about if gaming can be considered a sport.  For something a little harder (C1 level), try a listening exercise about boardgames.

For original version, try watching a TED Talk about Play or about gaming.

Reading:
First off, learners can do a reading comprehension articles about how video games are good for you.

For original version reading, try an article from the New Yorker called The Unexpected Philosophical Depths of the Clicker Game Universal Paperclips or a humorous text called Naturally Occurring Escape Rooms.

Writing:
This week you have a couple options for writing.  You could write an essay detailing the importance of play.  Or write the rule for a game you love or used to love as a child!
Best,
Kelly

Hi guys!  Thanks for logging into class online, it is great to still see your faces, keep in touch, laugh, and practice English throughout the insanity!

For those of you who have decided to put your English work aside in a moment of crisis, I totally understand.  I am keeping you updated on homework in case you want to take advantage of some free time to do some work!

This week we checked in on one another, talked about our best strategies to cheer us up (things to do, taste, smell, hear) and talked about things that we find beautiful.  We are going for feel food time away from the breaking news cycle.

Listening:
Learners can try an activity from BBC 6 minute English about Food and Mood.

For original version, try watching something that will make you laugh.  I love this episode of This American Life: Fiasco.

Reading:
First off, learners can read a short article that puts into practice some good expressions about cheering somebody up.

For original version reading, try an interesting article about how strangers can cheer you up.

Writing:
This week for writing I would like you to write down your plan for how to keep your mood up in the upcoming weeks of adversity.  What are the things that make you feel good and why?  When can you do them? What do you need?
Best,
Kelly

March Week Two:

This week I confessed my guilty pleasure of watching Netflix latest reality TV series, Love is blind. we use that as a jumping-off point to discuss reality TV in general, and all the crazy situations that play out on our screens.

Listening:
Learners can try an activity from BBC about reality TV called rants and raves.

For original version, you could start by exploring reality TV options on Netflix or other streaming platforms that you may be a member of. Or try an episode from the podcast This American Life called I'm on TV?

Reading:
First off, learners can an article from British council about some unusual British reality TV show concepts.

For original version reading, try an interesting article about 10 secrets of filming reality television.

Writing:
This week for writing I would like you to write an essay about what reality TV says about our culture today.
Best,
Kelly

This week we practice a couple of confusing grammar points including used to, usually, get used to, and be used to.

Now it's time to get down to doing your homework, but don't forget that if you are interested in participating in intensive pronunciation workshop March 21st and 22nd, registration is open!

Listening:
Learners can try an activity from BBC learning English about you using the grammar point used to talk about the past.  or, try another listening activity entitled you have changed.

For original version, I recommend listening to some podcast about gentrification. Here's an interesting one from NPR called there goes the neighborhood, or an episode from science versus.

Reading:
First off, learners can check out an explanation about using used to correctly from the BBC.

For original version reading, try an interesting article from the guardian called look back and enjoy the power of nostalgia.

Writing:
This week, choose one of the cartoons in this collection from bored panda about how life is changed. Now write an article explaining how things used to be compared to nowadays.
Best,
Kelly

This week we discussed swearing in English and appropriate alternatives to use.

Listening
​
Learners should try How Not to Swear, Curse, Cuss or Use Profanity English.or try 

• Learn English Swear Words With Natalie Portman
• Learn English Swearwords With Justin Timberlake (Dick in a Box)

For original version, check out some of the videos embedded in this site called 16 times Britain was the best country in the world at swearing. Or watch the classic George Carlin stand up Seven Dirty Words.

Reading
First off, learners should check out the activity from Breaking News English about swearing.

For original version reading, try How to Swear Around the World, or about the 7 Dirty Words.

​Writing
This week, you have two writing options.  You could try your hand at using some swears in English, writing sentences in the form of a dialogue to check to see if you have used them appropriately.

or you could write an article about profanity in our culture. Do people swear too much?
Best,
Kelly
​

Don't forget to do your homework! Make your English teacher happy!
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February Week Three:

This week we discussed the hot topic of "Empty Spain," the phenomenon of depopulation that is hitting Spain's rural areas the hardest, including our region of La Rioja.
For listening, learners can try an activity from Elllo called Country VS. City.

For original version check out a short documentary entitled, Can a Busload of Single Women Help Solve One of Spain's Biggest Problems?
Learners can read an article called Life in the city versus life in the country. Or, try a downloadable PDF about the countryside from British Council: Countryside is Great.

For original version, try an article from the BBC about Empty Spain, Can Opera Save the Town of Medinaceli?  Or The Emptying of Spain's Interior.  There are also numerous articles on the English edition of El Pais, such as Spain's Dying Railroad Towns.
Please write an article detailing the causes of depopulation in rural Spain.  What are some potential solutions? What is your opinion on the matter?
Best,
Kelly

​This week we talked about relationships and expectations to practice the grammatical form "I want you to" and "I need you to."

Listening:
Learners can try an activity called Love is In the Air about relationships or any of the many exercises from British Council about relationships.

For original version, try any episode from the podcast Modern Love.

Reading:
Learners can try an article talking about wants and desires.

For original version, read an article from Cheryl Strayd's fantastic advice column, Dear Sugar, many entries have to deal with what people want and need within relationships.

​Writing:
This week write an essay about expectations within relationships.  Think about relationships at work, within a family, friendships or romantic partnerships.  What do people want from each other? How do differences in wants and needs lead to conflict?
Best,
Kelly

This week we took a look at how the future was predicted by people centuries ago. Which predictions came true, and which predictions were completely off the mark.

it was a good opportunity to talk about our own ideas of what the future will look like.

Listening:
To start I recommend trying a listening exercise from Breaking news English about predicting the future which is adapted for learners. Or try another listening exercise about palm reading.

For original version, try a clip from of this American Life episode about predicting the future

Reading:
Learners can try an article from ESL voices called psychics can tell your future and keep you healthy.

For original version, try an article from NPR entitled how to predict the future no crystal ball needed.

​Writing
This week for a writing topic, it's your turn to be Nostradamus. please write an essay exploring what you predict the future to be like on multiple levels: personal, in your country, in the world. What do you think will happen with relationships, family, politics, technology etc?
Best,
Kelly

​ This week we continued our political discussion about the divide in US politics and the upcoming Democratic Primary Elections.  

Listening:
There are several good listening exercises designed for learners. Try an exercise from Randall's Listening Lab about voting, or from BBC English about compulsory voting.

For original version, try a latest episode from NPR politics podcast,  

Reading:
Learners can try an article entitled How Americans Elect a President.

For original version, read about the 2020 Dem Candidates and where they stand on the issues, or Why Do Iowa and New Hampshire go first? 

​Writing
This week, please respond to one of the following prompts:

1. Would you ever run for office?
2. What issues are most important to you?
3. If you could vote, who would you vote for this Election Day?
4. Why is it important for people to vote?

Best,
Kelly

 
We are focusing our conversation this week on politics. This week, Trump's impeachment trial which kicks off this week.  Who are the players, the evidence, the charges.  What do we predict will happen?  

Next week we will be discussing the other side, the upcoming Democratic primary elections in New Hampshire.

Listening:
Learners should try an audio from VOA English called Historic Impeachment Trial begins or US Supreme Court Justice will Impact Impeachment.

For original version listening, I recommend the podcast Trump, Inc.

Reading:
Check out an article adapted for learners from Breaking News English about impeachment.

For original version, try some articles from the BBC: Impeachment explained, A Very Simple Guide, Who is Who in the Trump Impeachment Trial.
 
Writing:
Please write an article this week outlining what is happening with impeachment.  Do you have an opinion or a prediction about what will happen?
Best,
Kelly