C2 · Education, study & language

C2 Listening and speaking: How to escape education’s death valley

If you happen to be a teacher, a parent or a student, you will have very probably spent a great deal of time thinking and speaking about school and education. You will also have probably wondered what schools are for and if they actually work at all. Astonishing as it may seem, you will also…… Continue reading C2 Listening and speaking: How to escape education’s death valley

C 2 · politics & society

C1/C2 Listening 5 Reasons that justify deportation

No issue is more hotly contested today than immigration, with restrictionists calling for the deportation of illegals and a 50 percent cut in legal immigration. How many of the reasons against immigration listed below are you familiar with? Serena’s blog In the activity below you will hear a podcast from Reason.com. Listen and fill the…… Continue reading C1/C2 Listening 5 Reasons that justify deportation

C 2 · law & crime

C1/C2 Listening Knife Crime in London

What types of crimes are rising in your country? What are people currently worried about concerning crime? Look at the picture below. How would you classify this list ranging from 1 to 10 according to its frequency? Serena’s blog In the following listening activity, you will hear about the rise of knife crimes in London.…… Continue reading C1/C2 Listening Knife Crime in London

C 2 · law & crime

C2 Listening Working on the Parole Board

Photo by Isabella Mendes on Pexels.com Paul Worsley, former judge, discusses the dilemma a parole board faces when it comes to deciding whether a person convicted of murder can be released into the community. In this listening activity, you will listen to an interview from Talkradio Europe. Fill in the blanks with the word(s) you…… Continue reading C2 Listening Working on the Parole Board

A1 · A2 · Cultures, customs, tradition & religion · Grammar · video

A1/A2 How to speak about your Christmas Day

Hi there! Here’s a new video and some related activities for some extra practice. This video aims to help beginners to cope with talking about celebrations. To set an example this video is about Christmas Day, but the video is useful for almost any celebration as it deals with routines. The video has a short…… Continue reading A1/A2 How to speak about your Christmas Day

A1 · A2 · House, home & daily life

A1- A2 How To Say and Understand Phone Numbers in English

As a teacher that has taught all levels of English (or almost all levels, anyway), I realised that teaching beginners can be as challenging as teaching C2s students. The first reason for this is that adult learners usually feel very shy and self-conscious about making mistakes in front of their classmates so they need to…… Continue reading A1- A2 How To Say and Understand Phone Numbers in English

Body, health & nutrition · C 2 · politics & society

C1-C2 Listening Interview Donald Williamson on Sin Tax effectiveness

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com First came taxes on tobacco, then on hard drinks. Okay, for our own good I’ll buy it. Then came taxes on sugary foods, as if this would save people from: eating disorders, weight problems, diabetes. You name it! Meanwhile, more and more ads appear on TV whetting appetites, offering…… Continue reading C1-C2 Listening Interview Donald Williamson on Sin Tax effectiveness

Body, health & nutrition · Cultures, customs, tradition & religion

B2 Listening 15 Wierd Food Recipes in the World

Image from Mentalfloss I found this video quite funny and entertaining and couldn’t help laughing at the speaker’s reactions to some of the dishes he describes. I’m aware that there is a lot of prejudice concerning eating habits, but what would our great-grandmothers have thought if they had seen us ordering a hamburger and chips…… Continue reading B2 Listening 15 Wierd Food Recipes in the World

C 2 · politics & society

How Urbane Farming Saved a Dallas Community

I’m so grateful to have found this video by Freethink, that will not only provide my students with the opportunity to speak about community problems, but it is also witnesses an inspiring approach to dealing with poverty, famine and the feeling of hopelessness. It also proves that WE as CITIZENS CAN rethink how our system…… Continue reading How Urbane Farming Saved a Dallas Community

A1 · A2 · songs

Pink Floyd – Bike

This is a really hilarious song performed by Syd Barret. It’s a sort of wierd love song where the boy is wooing a girl offering her the few things that he has and sharing stories and facts about his daily life with her. The end of the song is quite scary and I can’t help…… Continue reading Pink Floyd – Bike