CHRISTMAS TIME!!

Christmas is here!! A time of love, sharing, family... and presents, fun, parties!!!

So, what do you do at Christmas?
Do you have big dinners with your family or with your friends?
Do you go out every single night?
Do you still sing Christmas Carols (Spa: villancicos)?

Tell me about what you do or what you are going to do at Christmas...

PS: I promise I won't tell your parents or Santa Claus!!

End of year dinner.. or is it party?

I have heard a lot of things about this dinner you organise at the end of the year in Antella, but I would like to know more...

- Describe the place and the things you can do there, has it changed over the years?

- Do you go there during the rest of the year or only at the end of June?

- Write about the last time you were there, or the most memorable moments you have spent on this special day.

- What can be done to preserve natural sites as this one in Antella.

PS: Please try to answer all the questions.. don't just give me stories on how drun.... sorry on how much fun you have there.

Gossip!!

Seen as you can't be bothered (Spa:molestarse) in writing about something more formal...
Write about any of the following topics with one condition: it has to be long!

a) Andrea P's Easter nights... (by popular demand; sorry Andrea!)

b) The Final of Fame: Let's Dance!

c) The new OT "stars"

d) Why has Belen Esteban decided to get a divorce?

e) Free Topic: any other gossip you know about...

Gossip (Spa: cotilleo, cotillear)

How I met him or her...

Write about how you met you boyfriend / girlfriend and/or your best friend.
You can say:
-Where you met.
-If it was a special moment and place
-If it was somebody who introduced (Spa:presentar) you.
-What did you first like of him/her?
-When and how did you know he/she was special for you?

I hope (Spa: espero) you write true stories but you may change your names or sign with initials if you don't want to reveal any personal information.

PS: I hope you enjoy your days off school!!

To party or not to party...

As Falles are getting closer (Spa: acercándose), I want you to write about local festivities (Spa: fiestas locales) and/or falles in your town.

-Do you prefer Falles or local festivities?
-What do they do in your town during local festivities?
-How do you celebrate them? What do you and your friends do?
-What do they do during Falles?
-Do you belong to a falla? or to a local association for your festivities?
-Would you change (Spa:cambiarías) anything in Falles? and in your local festivities?

Carnival 2009!!

Write about what you remember or what can legally be said about your last carnival party in Gavarda.
If you did not go to Gavarda you can write about the last fancy dress (Spa: disfraz) party or carnival you went to.
Say:
-What costume (Spa:disfraz) were you wearing?
-Did you make the costume yourself or did you buy it?
-How did you get ready for the party?
-Who did you go with?
-What did you do during the night?
-Which was the best or most original costume that you saw?

Downloads...

There's downloads of passives, one on present and past passives with the answers to the exercises. And another one with sentence changing.
I've also added a basic review of verb tenses explained in Spanish.. so no excuses!!
Please leave a comment in this post when you download these files.

Thanx.

PARTY TIME!!!

After recent events (those involved know what I'm talking about!!) I would like you to write about any or all of the following:
- What do you do when you are out partying with friends?
- Where do you go? Do you go to bars, restaurants, stay in the street?
- Do you go out for supper (Spanish:cenar)?
- Do you drink when you are out? Why? or Why not?
- Do you think alcohol and party have to go together?
- Does your town have places for young people to have fun at night?
- What type of places would you like to have in your area?
- Do you prefer going to other towns to party?

I hope you write sincere comments!! I promise that I will not tell your parents about any compromising stories!!

Love is in the air...

I have seen that those of you who have added me on the MSN have love messages on your nickname... so here's your new topic:

-How are you going to celebrate or how have you celebrated Saint Valentine's Day?
-Which is the most romantic gift or surprise you have ever had on this day?

-Do you think it is a nice day to celebrate love or just another way of making people spend money at shopping centres?

I hope you have a LOVEly weekend or as LOVEly as possible...

Exams , Exams, Exams...

Here's a new topic for you to write about.
-Are there too many exams in our school system?
-Can you think of a better alternative to assess (Spanish:evaluar) students?
-Do you know what they do in other countries?

Don't just complain (Spanish:quejarse) about how many exams you have, I also want to read about alternatives if you don't agree with the present system.

I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE CONTRIBUTING...

Topics for Class Debates

This post is so you can add possible topics for class debates. Remember that they shoud be things which you can talk about, topics you more or less know something about. And they should be topics where we can divide the class and have some in favour and some against or just different points of view.

New Downloads

I've added two docs. One is Relative clauses explanations and exercises, and the other one is the key to correct these exercises.
Remember that your next exam is both on relative clauses and future tenses.

As usual if you have any questions you may ask in class or add me on your MSN michaels_corner@hotmail.com. However if you add me on to MSN it's to use it, not like Lydia who doesn't talk to me!!

WHEN YOU DOWNLOAD A DOCUMENT LET ME KNOW BY LEAVING A COMMENT ON THIS POST PLEASE!!

More Downloads

Just upped this post to remind everyone about the downloads on the left!! They include some explanations, exercises and in this case I've added the answers so you can correct yourselves. As usual you may ask any questions in class, by email or msn.
When you download any docs just leave a short note saying who you are, and maybe somthing else!!

Alternative Topic

Hi, this is an alternative assignment to Miss Aspas' birthday party topic.
-What are your favourite websites and why?
-Are any of these websites in English or have any contents in English?
-What do you do when you are on your computer : chat, send emails, surf the net?
-What information or links would you like to find on this blog?

You can answer some of these questions or just one or two of them. As long as you want, all contributions are welcome.

Second Assignment

Hi, after hearing or reading about recent events I've decided to ask you to write about something different. Here goes:
-Describe, with as many details as you can remember, Andrea Aspas' Birthday party (Happy Birthday Aspas, Andrea!! did you get the flowers I sent??)
-You may add pictures but rememeber that this blog is G rated, which means it is for all ages, so nothing which may offend innocent readers (that includes me!)

Hope your hangovers aren't too bad!!
C ya tomorrow!

First assignment

For those of you who don't get here first... Write a comment talking about where, when and how do you use English in your life, either as speaker or listener/viewer. Just three or four lines will do.
Remember to sign your post with your name.

Thnkx !!

A BIG THANK YOU to the first contributors...I had the feeling you would be the first ones to drop in a few lines. However, I was really surprised with the first two comments but they are really welcomed too!! I just hope you can keep up the good work.

Downloads Added

Download section added so you can now directly download docs and other stuff. Just click on the link and the download page will come up.

First download file is Future Tenses theory and some exercises. There are no answers to the exercises so if you do them you may ask for corrections or explanations on msn or in class.

C ya!

Posting

If you want to comment anything on this blog feel free... but remember I have the last word and can edit or delete any unsuitable contributions.

Just add your comments at the end of my posts. And if it is a new idea, suggestion or proposal, send it by email to michaels_corner@hotmail.com and I'll add it as a new post on the blog.

Once again I hope this works... sooner or later...

Welcome to my place...

Hi anyone!! I hope this somehow works for all you students who show a bit of interest in learning and improving your English.
This place is open to collaboration, and it is up to all of you to send in suggestions, ideas, etc.

On this blog you'll find certain class assignments, some of your own compositions, song lyrics and song exercises, grammar reviews, composition topics, and much more to come.

That's all, I'll be happy if this site helps one student with one word... if it's more it would mean the world to me...