Hi All,

Before we get to the homework, I wanted to let you know that this week we will have our extra activity -- game night this Friday March 1st at 18:00! We will meet at the office to play a few games and laugh in English (think Password, Pictionary, that type of thing).  If you would like to come please let me know so I know how many people to expect.  You're welcome to bring friends and family who speak English!

This week we talked about one of my favorite topics, photography!  We looked at some of the world's most influential photographs and described and discussed them, including those of Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, Walker Evans, and Cristina Garcia Rodero.

For listening, try something simple like Photography from Listen a Minute and then move on to Photography: Taking Pictures With Style.  For original version try checking out Magnum's Images in Motion.

For reading, look at some of the pictures at ESL photography and read the story behind them. Or try The Big Picture and read about current events through captivating images.

For writing, please describe one of your favorite photographs.  This could be one by a professional photographer or one of your own. Maybe check out The Big Picture for some current photographs to describe.

Best,
Kelly

 Howdy!

As an extension of last week's romance lesson, this week we talked about online dating, and read and talked about some of the many questions used to find your perfect match on OKCupid.com.

For listening, try Dating and Romance or Online Dating.  For "original version" listening, check out the NPR article about the Little White Lies of Online Dating revealed.

For reading, start with something easy, like Forever Single.  Then challenge yourself a little more with an article from the NY Times, Taking a Chance on Love and Alogrithms or the Dubious Science of Online Dating.

For writing, imagine that you have to write a profile for one of these websites!  Things to include are a self-summary, what are you doing with your life, what are you good at, and what are you favorite books, movies, music, shows and food.

Next week there is original version cinema.  On Tuesday February 26th at 20:15 they are showing Sweet Smell of Success at the Filmoteca and on Wednesday February 27th at 20:15 they are showing High Sierra at the filmoteca.

I am organizing this month's extra activity.  Due to recent low attendance, I would like you to fill out the online form with your preferences of times, dates, and activities.  I will confirm the activity ASAP.

Best,
Kelly

Happy Valentine's Day!

This week in honor of the holiday we talked about love, romance and relationships.

For listening, try BBC English's How to Ask Someone Out or How to Chat Someone Up.  For "original version" listening, check out This is Your Brain On Love

For reading, try one of the articles at Heads Up English, like Saint Valentine's Day or When to Tie the Knot.  For "original version" reading, try the classic short story A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor.

For writing, try your hand at writing a romantic story or describing your dream man or woman.

Next week there is original version cinema.  They are showing "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Too Afraid to Ask" at the filmoteca on Wednesday February 20th at 20:15.

Please note -- there is a change in office hours.  I am available for extra help on Mondays 17:50-18:25, Wednesday 17:00-17:20 and Thursday 13:30 (or by appointment).

Best,
Kelly

Hi Everybody,

This week we started talking about sports (especially American football and the Super Bowl) and ended up talking about pets and animals.  What eased this transition?  The Puppy Bowl, of course!  You can watch highlights of the Puppy Bowl at Animal Planet.

So, on to the homework.  For listening, try the activity Easy Pet Care or learning about idioms that use the word dog. For "original version" listening try the This American Life episode Animals (listen with transcript) or In Dog We Trust (listen with transcript)

For reading, you can read about how Americans prepare for Super Bowl Sunday or try reading one of these animal stories.

For writing, please respond to one of these prompts.  Are dogs really man's best friend? If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? Detail a typical day in the life of this new animal version of you.

This week there is original version cinema.  This week at the Wurth Museum they are showing a documentary Cave of Forgotten Dreams on Thursday February 6th at 20:00.  Admission is free but please call in advance to reserve a spot -- 941010410.  Also, on Tuesday February 12th at 20:30 they are showing Shock Corridor at the Filmoteca (Sala de Gonzalo de Berceo).

Best,
Kelly

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"Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." --George Elliot   

Hi everybody!

This week in class we discussed dreams and nightmares. To get started you may like to take a look at this interesting infographic about dream interpretation. Or try learning some common idioms related to sleep.

For listening, start with an easy exercise like Dreams at Listen a Minute.  Then you can move on to more advanced topics like The Mystery of Dreams and Dreaming.  For highly entertaining "original version" listening, I recommend the This American Life episode Fear of Sleep (especially Part 1), available with transcript.

For reading try the article What are Dreams.  Or if you are ambitious you could try reading a simplified version of A Midsummer's Night's Dream.

For writing, please describe the last dream you had or a common recurring dream you've had.

Best,
Kelly