Travelling. Survival English

English for travellers. Are you planning to go abroad? Here are a few exercises that will give you basic English preparation. Here are a few videos, quizzes and listening exercises to practice a bit of travel English.  (EML)

Polite enquiries

Quiz. Ride downtown

Check-in

Asking for help at the hotel reception

Listening. A Ticket to Glasgow

Travel English Activities

At the Hotel. Vocabulary

At the Airport. Booking and Boarding a Fight (Am Eng)

At the Airport

Vocabulary

The School Day of Non-violence and Peace (30th January)

The School Day of Non-violence and Peace is an observance founded by the Spanish poet Llorenç Vidal in Majorca in 1964 as a starting point and support for a pacifying and non-violent education of a permanent character. It is observed on January 30, on the anniversary of the death of Mahatma Gandhi, in schools all over the world. In countries with a Southern Hemisphere school calendar, it can be observed on 30 March. Its basic and permanent message is:  
"Universal love, non-violence and peace. Universal love is better than egoism, non-violence is better than violence, and peace is better than war".

Former Director-General of UNESCO, Federico Mayor Zaragoza, has been promoting during decades the School Day of Non-violence and Peace, saying in Global Education Magazine: "We can not achieve a sustainable development without a culture of peace". (from wikipedia)

It advocates a permanent education in and for harmony, tolerance, solidarity, respect for human rights, non-violence and peace.

PEACE QUOTES

'An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.' Mahatma Gandhi 

'Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.' Albert Einstein 

'Peace begins with a smile.' Mother Teresa 

'Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one.' John Lennon

'Peace and justice are two sides of the same coin.' Dwight D. Eisenhower'

'Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.' John F. Kennedy

'It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.' Eleanor Roosevelt

'Nonviolence is the first article of my faith. It is also the last article of my creed.' Mahatma Gandhi

SONG

Heal the World (Michael Jackson)

POSTER

                                                                    

Anglés Pràctic 1r ESO

News Using the Passive. Reading-Comprehension (Pre-Intermediate Level)

Read the text and do the activities. You'll find the answers after clicking on 'Read more'           
                     
Huge Diamond Found in Bangkok Sewer System
The largest recorded diamond ever discovered was unearthed beneath the streets of lower Sukhumvit, Bangkok last week. The 37500 karat stone was stumbled upon by a team of maintenance workers cleaning out the sewer lines between soi's 89 and 90 last Friday night. According to witnesses, the stone was found by Mr. Supakorn, of Nakhon Phanom province.
“I was walking through the sludge when suddenly I tripped over an obstacle and fell flat on my face. When I reached down to remove the object, I noticed it had a very fine surface, almost like glass, but it was so heavy I thought that maybe it was a piece of concrete.
“When I looked at it close to the light, I couldn't believe my eyes”, he is reported to have told his boss. Mr. Supakorn was immediately taken back to headquarters where the account of his story was confirmed.
The head office of Supakorns company was inundated with friends and family wanting to know more about the precious stone. After hearing media reports of his finding, Mr. Supakorn then fled Bangkok not wanting to draw too much attention to himself. Attempts to find Mr. Supakorn by police and local authorities have been unsuccessful. The stone was reported to have been purchased by an unknown buyer from Dubai, going by the name of  "Mr. T". After collecting the precious stone from Mr. Supakorn, a private jet was chartered to fly Mr. T. back to Dubai. The sale of the precious stone is said to have caused devastation to the team of maintenance workers. The sewers of Bangkok have since been overrun with prospectors looking to follow the fotunes of Mr.Supakorn

                                                                                                                                         Written by Paul Adams for Teach-This.com ©2012

Exercise 1 - 
Passive Voice Sentences. Identify four examples of passive voice sentences from the news story.
Example: The 375 karat stone was stumbled upon by a team of maintenance workers cleaning out the sewer lines between soi's 89 and 90 last Friday night.  

Exercise 2 - Passive Voice Dialogue. Complete the sentences using the passive voice
 
Dialogue 1
Noi: The diamond that__ (find) last week___ (sell) a businessman   from Dubai.
Por: Yeah, a huge sum of money_____ (pay) to the Nakhon Phanom Province authorities
Noi: I heard the guy who found it____ (make) crazy by his fame.
Por: That's a shame, a discovery like that should be celebrated.
 
Dialogue 2
Buakaw:Did you watch the Man United vs Barcelona match last night? Four goals __(score) by both  teams.
Yodsenklai: Really? I heard that Rooney____ (send) off for foul play.
Buakaw: Yes, but a new system of play ____(use).
Yodsenklai: At the end of the day, a better game ____(play) by Man United.
 
Dialogue 3
Sid: Japan ___(hit)by a 9.1 earthquake yesterday and a large tsunami___ (generate).
Kim: Ten cities ______(affect) and communications_____ (disrupt).
Sid: 50,000 residents__________ (evacuate) within four hours of being alerted.
Kim: But five evacuation centres____ (destroy). The road____ (ruin)making evacuation difficult.

ANSWERS

Clothing Styles

Listen to the conversation and do the Listening exercises and Vocabulary activities 
 Clothing Styles

Small Talk. Two Short Videos

SIGNS YOU'RE NOT GOOD AT SMALL TALK






 SMALL TALK METHOD

Songs with Examples of Comparatives

Video: Comparative and Superlative Adjectives (British Council-LearnEnglish Teens)

 Watch and listen to the video:
Sophie is working in Rome this week. Oliver, Alfie and Daisy have decided to eat out tonight.

When we want to compare two or more things, we can change the form of adjectives by adding –er or –est. We can also use extra words like more or most and expressions like not as … as

The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost (poem with text)

Mr. Bean. At the Supermarket

   

When you see one of the things below happening in the film, put up your hand

and say that sentence. Sometimes both of the sentences happen in the film, and

sometimes just one. The sentences are mixed up. You get one point for a correct

sentence and lose one point for a wrong one.

He' s brushing his hair
He’s brushing his teeth
He’s brushing his eyebrows
He’s using a towel
He’s putting a towel around his waist
He’s speaking on the phone
He’s banging the phone
He’s pressing buttons on the phone
He’s looking under the man’s bag
He’s looking in the man’s bag
He’s looking at his credit card
He’s looking for his credit card
He’s smelling something fantastic
He’s smelling something disgusting
He’s carrying an empty basket
He’s carrying a full basket

He’s feeling embarrassed
He’s feeling bored
He’s feeling confused
He’s feeling irritated (= annoyed)
He’s feeling shocked
He’s feeling proud
He’s feeling disappointed
He’s peeling a potato
He’s cutting a potato
He’s putting his hand in his pocket
He’s putting his hand in the man’s pocket
The man is sitting on a chair
The man is sitting on a toilet
The man is pulling down his pants
The man is pulling up his pants
He’s holding his breath
He’s blowing
He’s sneezing
He’s coughing


                                                                                         from http://tefltastic.wordpress.com

An Amazing Performance

Read the text.Are you ready for a role play?

Michael's phone is ringing and vibrating in his pocket.

"Hello?"

"Hi honey, is the play starting yet?"

"No, not yet, Cari. We are all still waiting for the show to start." Michael is sitting in the third row, waiting to see their son Joe in his very first play. "What are you doing? Are you leaving yet?"

"I am finishing up some work and then yes."

"Okay, as long as you are hurrying. … Oh, they are pulling up the curtain right now. The show is starting."

"Oh good. I am listening. I am keeping you on speaker phone."

Michael is whispering into the phone now. "Cari, only two actors are walking onto the stage. Joe is not joining them yet."

"Okay. I am waiting. I am trying to be patient." Cari is laughing into the phone. After a few minutes, she is getting impatient. "What is taking so long?"

"Shhh! We are trying to be quiet, silly! Good job being patient. His part is coming up soon."

"Okay." She is sighing.

"Oh! Here he is coming! Are you hearing this? He is doing a great job! He is remembering his lines. He is really enjoying this!"

"Shhh! I am trying to hear him, not you!"

"Okay, sorry. I am just trying to keep you updated. Oh, wow, he is doing something amazing. Oh wow! He is …" An usher is walking down the aisle toward Michael. The usher is holding a finger up to his lips.

"Uh honey, an usher is shushing me. I am getting into trouble. I am hanging up now."

"No! What is he doing? Something amazing is happening? What is happening?" No noise is coming from her phone now. She is getting very upset, but at least her son is amazing at something!

THE END

                                                                                                                                                                                                   from really-learn-english.com

Business Etiquette Cartoon

Small Talk in Business

Small talk is a very important skill in business. Attending receptions, banquets, and other business-related social events might be a dreadful experience if you don't know what to say and how to behave; however, with a little practice and use of these helpful tips, you can become the perfect partner.

1. Introduce and initiate. Go ahead and initiate with a hello! Even if you recognize, or slightly know someone, re-introduce yourself. Be aware of how people introduce themselves and use their name throughout your interaction. This will help you remember it in the long run and also establish a personal connection.
2. Use an icebreaker. An icebreaker not only provides a way to meet new people, but also helps jump start conversations. For example, using an icebreaker such as “Tell me about your conference last week...” instead of simply saying hello can lead to a fruitful conversation, rather than an uncomfortable silence. Some other valuable icebreakers you might use are:

 “Bring me up to date on your latest project.”
    “What do you find to be the most enjoyable aspect of your job?”
    “Tell me about your history with ________.”
    “How did you come to find yourself in the........field?”

3. Express interest and make an effort. You have to be interested if you want to be interesting. Part of your job as a conversation starter is to get the other person to talk. Listen to what your conversational partner is saying and ask relevant follow-up questions.
4. Find common ground. Whether you’re chatting with a new co-worker or a business function speaker, it’s important to stay on a related topic. As long as you stay on a subject you are both familiar with – like your specific field or the day’s event – you’ll be able to communicate easily.
5. Overcome uncomfortable pauses. It’s up to you to keep the conversation going if there are some pauses.
6. Establish personal boundaries. It’s fine if you want to let someone know where you went to college or how many children you have, but be mindful of how much personal information you provide. Revealing too many personal details in a business setting can be inappropriate.
7. Exit thoughtfully. In many business situations, it’s important to make contact with several people and move around a room. If you are in management it is always good to make contact and interact with as many on the team as possible.

Adapted from wikihow.com/Small-Talk-for-Successful-Business-Networking

Grammar video: future forms

You can read about when and how to use the different future forms in English here (going to, future simple, present continuous). You can also watch a video with some examples to understand it better. After watching the video, do the activities below. Have fun!
To access the video, click on the image:

Listening: Introducing a friend

Listen to the following text and do the activities below to improve your listening skills.
To go to the website, click on the image.

What to Wear (BBC Learning English)

Click here and find out what Emma and other Londoners like to wear and learn some useful vocabulary to talk about clothes and fashion.

ENOUGH / TOO/ TOO MUCH / TOO MANY

 There are too many cooks for the broth.

                         too many + plural countable nouns

 There's too much water.

                        too much +singular uncountable nouns

 This mobile phone is too expensive.

                             too + adjective/adverb

 She hasn't got enough money to buy those shoes.

     enough + noun

You aren't tall enough for the ride.

              adjective / adverb + enough



Activity 1
Activity 2

Listening-comprehension activities

Listening comprehension exercises
with
trailers of English-language movies,
commercials
 and
old songs


 http://en.ver-taal.com/index.htm

Describing a House

1. Watch the video and do the activities below it.
2. Describe your dream house.

Click here for help to describe a place.

A2 exam

As you know, on Wednesday you can take the A2 level test. You've got a model here to practise at home: Good luck!

CLICK HERE
(you'll be redirected to the EOI oficial website). You'll download a .zip file. When you decompress it, you'll find 3 different files: the one you're interested in is called IN_NB_11.pdf
As you know, there are 4 different parts: Oral Comprehension (CO), Written Comprehension (CE), Oral Expression (EO) and Written Expression (CE).

You've got more information on the exam here.

Interactive Book: Comparative Forms

Idioms to express Happiness

 

Present Simple


Usos

1. El presente simple se utiliza para hablar de cosas que suceden habitualmente. A diferencia con el español, no se usa el presente simple para hablar sobre algo que está pasando en el momento en el que hablamos.

Se suele utilizar el presente simple con adverbios de tiempo:
always (siempre), every day (cada día), usually (normalmente), often (a menudo), sometimes (a veces), rarely (raramente), hardly ever (casi nunca), never (nunca)...

Ejemplos:
I always talk to my mother on Sundays. (Siempre hablo con mi madre los domingos.)
He never eats vegetables. (Nunca come las verduras.)
They learn something new in class.They usually learn something new in class. (Normalmente aprenden algo nuevo en la clase.)

Excepción:

Los adverbios de tiempo van delante del verbo, excepto el verbo "to be" (ser/estar). Cuando se usa "to be" el verbo va delante del adverbio.
Ejemplos:
I am always happy. (Siempre estoy contento.)
He is often sick. (A menudo él está enfermo.)
They are rarely late. (En raras ocasiones llegan tarde.) 

2. Se utiliza para hablar de generalidades o hechos científicos.
Ejemplos:
He does not [doesn't] eat vegetables. (Él no come verduras.)
She works in a hospital. (Ella trabaja en una hospital.)
Elephants live in Africa. (Los elefantes viven en África.)
Bogota is in Colombia. (Bogotá está en Colombia.)
Do children like animals? (¿Les gustan a los niños los animales?)
Adults do not [don't] know everything. (Los adultos no lo saben todo.)

Reading: Jennifer Lawrence

Do you like Jennifer Lawrence? How much do you know about her? Find it out with the following reading exercise. Read the text (click on the image) and answer the questions below. Good luck!

Reading: Food and Restaurants

Do you like eating out? What's your favourite type of food? How often do you eat out? You can practise all these expressions with the following reading activity. Read the text (click on the image) and do the activities below. Good luck!

Ed Sheeran: Thinking Out Loud

Interview with a swimmer

You can practise daily routines and activities with

Listening: my favourite things

You can practise your listening skills with the following activity.
Listen to some people talking about their favourite things and then do the activities below.
Click on the image to go to the website (British Council)

New Year in the UK

This is a nice text (British Council) about how people celebrate New Year's Day in the UK. Read it and check your understanding with the exercises below. To read the text, click on the image.

Will or be going to?

When we want to talk about future facts or things we believe to be true about the future, we use 'will'.

• The President will serve for four years.
• The boss won't be very happy.
• I'm sure you'll like her.
• I'm certain he'll do a good job.

If we are not so certain about the future, we use 'will' with expressions such as 'probably', 'possibly', 'I think', 'I hope'.

• I hope you'll visit me in my home one day.
• She'll probably be a great success.
• I'll possibly come but I may not get back in time.
• I think we'll get on well.

If you are making a future prediction based on evidence in the present situation, use 'going to'.

• Not a cloud in the sky. It's going to be another warm day.
• Look at the queue. We're not going to get in for hours.
• The traffic is terrible. We're going to miss our flight.
• Be careful! You're going to spill your coffee.

At the moment of making a decision, use 'will'. Once you have made the decision, talk about it using 'going to'.

• I'll call Jenny to let her know. Sarah, I need Jenny's number. I'm going to call her about the meeting.
• I'll come and have a drink with you but I must let Harry know. Harry, I'm going to have a drink with Simon.

 You can also check this table:

Will + infinitive	Be going to + infinitive
A decision at the moment of speaking (instant decisions) Julie: There's no milk. John: Really? In that case, I'll go and get some.	A decision before the moment of speaking (plans or intentions) Julie: There's no milk. John: I know. I'm going to go and get some when this TV programme finishes.
A prediction based on opinion: I think the Conservatives will win the next election.	A prediction based on something we can see (or hear) now: The Conservatives are going to win the election. They already have most of the votes.
A future fact: The sun will rise tomorrow.
For promises / requests / refusals / offers: I'll help you tomorrow, if you like.

You can now practise with the following exercises:

Exercise1              Exercise2               Exercise3                 Exercise4           Exercise5      Exercise6

Practise conditional sentences while you play!

You have some games here to practise. Have lots of fun!
Game1  (Who wants to be a billionaire?)
Game2   (Rally)


You can also listen to some conditional sentences in this song by Beyoncé.

Shake it off (Taylor Swift)

Mixed Conditional Exercises

You can practise with all these exercises:
 Exercise1           Exercise2             Exercise3            Exercise4           Exercise5           Exercise6           Exercise7             Exercise8            Exercise9            Exercise10

The Third Conditional(for no possibility) 

 If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a car.

The first conditional and second conditionals talk about the future. With the third conditional we talk about the past. We talk about a condition in the past that did not happen. That is why there is no possibility for this condition. The third conditional is also like a dream, but with no possibility of the dream coming true.
Last week you bought a lottery ticket. But you did not win. :-(

if	condition	result
	Past Perfect	would have + past participle
If	I had won the lottery,	I would have bought a car.

Notice that we are thinking about an impossible past condition. You did not win the lottery. So the condition was not true, and that particular condition can never be true because it is finished. We use the Past Perfect tense to talk about the impossible past condition. We use would have + past participle to talk about the impossible past result. The important thing about the third conditional is that both the condition and result are impossible now.
Look at these example senteces:

if	condition	result
	Past Perfect	would have + past participle
If	I had seen Mary,	I would have told her.
If	Tara had been free yesterday,	I would have invited her.
If	they had not passed their exam,	their teacher would have been sad.
If	it had rained yesterday,	would you have stayed at home?
If	it had rained yesterday,	what would you have done?

result	if	condition
would have + past participle		Past Perfect
I would have told Mary	if	I had seen her.
I would have invited Tara	if	she had been free yesterday.
Their teacher would have been sad	if	they had not passed their exam.
Would you have stayed at home	if	it had rained yesterday?
What would you have done	if	it had rained yesterday?

Sometimes, we use should have, could have, might have instead of would have, for example: If you had bought a lottery ticket, you might have won.

You can practise now with the following exercises

Exercise 1    Exercise 2     Exercise 3    Exercise 4     Exercise 5     Exercise 6   Exercise 7   Exercise 8 

The Second Conditional.
The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive:

• if + past simple, ...would + infinitive

(We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. This is mostly done in formal writing).
It has two uses.
First, we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true. Maybe I'm imagining some dream for example.

• If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.(I probably won't win the lottery)
• If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.
• She would travel all over the world if she were rich.
• She would pass the exam if she ever studied.(She never studies, so this won't happen)

Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true. Is that clear? Have a look at the examples:

• If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for me to call him).
• If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.

How is this different from the first conditional? This kind of conditional sentence is different from the first conditional because this is a lot more unlikely.

For example (second conditional): If I had enough money I would buy a house with twenty bedrooms and a swimming pool (I'm probably not going to have this much money, it's just a dream, not very real)

But (first conditional): If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes (It's much more likely that'll have enough money to buy some shoes)

You can practise with the following exercises:
Exercise 1 Exercise 2  Exercise 3   Exercise 4 
Exercise 5   Exercise 6   Exercise 7   Exercise 8