Last week we discussed different events in professional life (conferences, conventions, seminars) and in personal life (weddings, birthday parties, openings), but this week we took it a step further and imagined planning an event like this.  

Listening:
Learners can check out several listening options such as planning a party, and office party planning.

For original version listening, try a podcast from This American Life called Number One Party School.

Reading:
Learners can try an activity called My First Music Festival in France, to try to practice their reading skills.  For another one, check out the PDF: Woodstock, the Greatest Music Festival.

For original version, read a magazine article about planning a festival and having it go completely wrong: Fyre Festival: Anatomy of a Millenial Marketing Fiasco Waiting to Happen.

Writing:
This week, please write an article describing the steps to pulling off an amazing party or event!  Here are some ideas:

• surprise party
• gallery opening
• going away party
• block party
• village fiestas

Best,
Kelly

This week we looked toward the future and imagined planning some events: birthday parties, musical festivals, weddings, first communions, etc.

Listening:
Learners can check out a listening comprehension activity from British Council about Weddings, or about Unusual British Festivals.

For original version listening, watch a short video about festivals around the world.

Reading:
Learners can read about the stages of planning an event and complete a comprehension activity.

For original version, read some descriptions of Spanish festivals for an international audience.

Writing:
This week, please write a report about an event that you have attended.  What were the preparations, describe the venue, the activities.  Do you think it was successful? Why or why not?

Best,
Kelly

 This week we talking about fixing things: renovating, repairing, mending, fixing, this topic is relevant in many aspects of life from homes, cars, computers to clothes.

Listening:
Learners can try an intermediate listening activity about computer problems. For something more challenging try listening about home repairs and car repairs.

For original version listening, there are a few TED talks worth watching: How to fix a broken heart, Can the Damaged Brain Repair Itself? or Architecture that Repairs Itself.

Reading:
Learners can read something from Breaking News English about clothes that repair themselves. For something harder, try an article about the Buy Nothing Movement.

For original version, read an interesting article from the Guardian entitled Can Spain Fix Its Worst Ecological Crisis by Making a Lagoon a Legal Person?

Writing:
This week, please write a report about something that is broken (an object, a system), how to repair it and recommendations for the future.

Best,
Kelly

 This week's topic was work!  Employment, unemployment, working from home, retirement, work life balance.  Our conversation ran the gamut.

Listening:
Learners can try listening to a radio program from British Council about Work-Life Balance or for something more difficult try
Challenges at work
For original version listening, listening to an episode from Esther Perel's podcast How's work?  such asRace, Gender and Money or Sex Work: The Unofficial ResumeReading:
Learners can try a reading comprehension activity about job adverts or about achieving balance while juggling all your tasks.

For original version, read any of the fascinating stories from Longreads.org about work:
Seasonal Associate
What Happened to Cruise Ship Workers Once the Passengers Were Gone?

Writing:
This week, please write an article about how the nature of work is changing in this crazy moment of the pandemic.  How are people adapting to working at home? Is this a paradigm shift?

Best,
Kelly

In honor of book day in Spain and National Poetry Month in the United States, we worked on literature and poetry in this week's class.


Listening:
Learners can try a Breaking News English listening exercise about reading and its longterm benefits: text and mp3 at different levels and speeds.  Or you can try an activity from Elllo about Reading on Devices.

For original version listening, watch the fantastic Amanda Gorman's poetry recital at the inauguration this year: The Hill We Climb.

Reading.
Learners can try a reading comprehension activity about the world's worst poem which sold at auction.

For original version, of course the idea is to READ SOME POETRY!  Here are some suggestions:

• Hope is the Thing with Feathers, Emily Dickinson
• Kindness, by Naomi Shihab Nye
• All the World's a Stage by William Shakespeare

Writing:
This week, let's try to get creative.  WRITE A POEM! It could be about love, about a person, an object, an experience.  Try to get the creative juices flowing!

If you are not feeling the inspriation, you could write an essay about the importance of reading or poetry in our society.

Best,
Kelly

  This week's topic was the food industry: restaurants, bars, eating out, fine dining, buffets, fast food.  We covered it all!

Listening:
Learners can try an activity from British Council about A Special Restaurant or for a bigger challenge (C1 level) try this restaurant review listening exercise.

For original version listening, listen to 24 Hours at the Golden Apple, a podcast episode about a diner in Chicago. Or check out back episodes of the late Anthony Bourdain's show No Reservations.

Reading:
Learners can try reading some restaurant reviews that go with reading comprehension exercsies.  Or try a reading and vocabulary article about the fast food industry.

For original version, try an article from NPR (along with audio) about How Restaurants Should Pay Their Servers. For comic relief, check out these hilarious restaurant reviews.

Writing:
This week, please practice writing a review about a restuarant.  What kind of cuisine does it serve? How would you rate the staff? What about the ambiance?  Overall, do you recommend it?

Best,
Kelly

 This was your last class before spring break! As always, the vacation periods are a great time to recharge and reset.  

Use this time to review any past homework you haven't had time to do and revisit your intentions for your English study practice.

Classes resume the week of Monday April 12th.  Enjoy spring break!

Best,
Kelly