Hello Everyone!

First off, I wanted to tell you that this Sunday October 28th is our October extra activity!

This week we talked about two topics that go hand in hand -- motivation and procrastination.  To warm up, you can check out these infographics about procrastination and motivation.

For reading, try reading Procrastination and Happiness  or Make Learning English a Habit.  More advanced learners may enjoy Helping Students Motivate Themselves.

For listening, try reading the Heads Up English article Tomorrow is Another Day with mp3 and transcript.  For "original version" listening, I recommend Drive: the surpising truth about what motivates us or Dan Pink's fascination TED Talk about the surprising science of motivation (available with subtitles in English or Spanish).

For writing, I would like you to write a short text about what you can do to motivate yourself to keep working on English in the next month. 

Next week, there is original version cinema at the Filmoteca de La Rioja (Sala de Gonzalo de Berceo).  They are showing Margin Call (trailer) next Tuesday October 30th at 20:15. 

Best,
Kelly
--
Motivation is what gets you going.  Habit is what keeps you going. - Jim Rohn.

Greetings!

This week we discussed the winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize - The European Union.  Many of you thought this wasn't the best choice, and some of you thought the EU deserves such a prestigious prize.  We also talked a lot about different countries, people and history of Europe.  So for your homework this week, you can warm up by testing your Europe geography knowledge, Eurotrivia or watching this time lapse video of the formation of Europe.

For listening this week, I recommend Breaking News English's article for learners about the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize (mp3, text, quiz)  VOA also has a video and text of the article for learners.  For original version materials, watch an intesting TED talk about mapping borders (available with subtitles in English and Spanish)

For reading, learners should try finding an article of their choice to read in English in the Europe section at VOA.  Or, for original version reading, try the BBC's article about the mixed reaction the prize got, or the NYTimes Editorial in favor of the prize.

Don't forget to do the writing!  Please write a short composition comparing different European countries.  You can use anecdotal evidence from your travels around Europe.  Try to be as descriptive as possible!

This week there is original version theater (in English and Catalan with Spanish subtitles) called Forests at the Bretón Theater.

This month's extra activity will be on Sunday October 28th so mark your calendars!  If anyone has any specific ideas, let me know.  I will announce the activity next week.

Best,
Kelly

Hello Everyone,

Don't forget that this Thursday October 11th at 20:00 I will be celebrating the beginning of the school year and the first anniversary of Meetinghouse!  We will meet to have a glass of wine and chat in English at the bar in the gallery space of the Casa de La Imagen (Plaza de San Bartolomé 3).  You're welcome to come celebrate with me!

Also, next week there is original version cinema in Logroño which is always a great way to keep working on your English. They are showing Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times on Tuesday October 16th at 20:15 at the Filmoteca -- Sala Gonzalo de Berceo (Calvo Sotelo). Also, they are showing Shame at the Cañas cinema from October 8th-14th at 20:00.

Now, down to business!  This week we talked a lot about pronunciation and how to improve your accent. Remember this takes a lot of practice and dedication all throughout the year.  Some general good resources are BBC Pronunciation, Rachel's English, Accurate English, Jennifer ESL, and Accent Training Videos.Listen and Repeat Pronunciation Practice


Now, for writing.  Please write a short composition describing yourself five years in the future.  What is your life like? Your job? Your day to day routines?  Then, I recommend recording yourself reading your composition so that you can practice great pronuncation, rhythm and intonation. You can use Windows Sound Recorder, Mac's Garage Band, or online recording software such as Vocaroo.

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the new school year!  It was wonderful to see old students again and to meet new ones.  Now that it is the new school year, it's a great time to start studying English again.  Don't forget that I am happy to correct your work. 

Here are some general resources for you to try that will help you work at home online.  There are MANY of them, but try to find at least one that could be useful for you and tell me about your progress.


Writing:
Writing is a fantastic way for you to practice and to discover what grammar points you need to review and improve.  Every week I will send a writing topic and will correct your work, either through email or on paper.  This week's topic is: Tell about the most memorable thing that has happened to you in the past three months.

Listening: 

• Online listening (Elllo, BBC English, Randall's Listening Lab, English Central, British Council)
• Podcasts: Some are learners, like ESLPod, or in "original version" (Radiolab and This American Life, and Stuff You Missed In History Class are some of my favorites) but there are lots of others on NPR and BBC  
  
• Vaughan Radio (online or on TDT Radio)
• Videos online: youtube teachers (Mister Duncan, Steve Ford) or original version (TED and Frontline Documentaries have subtitles in English) 
  
• Movies, with or without subtitles in English or Spanish. Also, Learn English Through Movies and Movie English
  
• Music (Lyrics Training, Tune into English Karaoke)

Reading

• The news! For learners (Breaking News English, Voice of America) Either in original version (NYT, BBC, CNN) or for learners
• Original essays, short stories, articles or novels
• Your interest are on the internet (including blogs) in original version.  Do you like reading about news, film, culture, music, art, food, cooking,education, art history, science, tecnology, the economy, nature, fashion, history, museums, interior design, big ideas,sports, or architecture? There is a something for you to read somewhere.  If you need help finding things to read or listen to online about your interests, please tell me!

Grammar Review and Exercises:

• Road to Grammar, Grammar Quizzes, English Zone, Ego4U, Speak Speak

Pronunciation:

• BBC Pronunciation, Ship or Sheep, English Online, Pronunciation Exercises, English Central

Vocabulary:

• British Council, IES(Easy, Medium, Difficult)

Apps for your phone or tablet: (some free, some not)

• Busuu, Voxy, Speaking Pal, MyWordBook, EnglishGrammarInUse

Well, that should keep you all busy for this week! Don't worry about looking at all the websites, but find some that you like to use continuously throughout the year.

Work hard and have a wonderful week.

Best,
Kelly