End Of Year Results

The end of year results for both NB2 and NA1 will be posted on the downstairs notice board at 4 pm today, Tuesday 29th May.

This Week's Ecology

How big is your ecological footprint on planet Earth?

Timetable to see exam scripts; NB2 and NA1

Don't forget that, if you  have completed the four papers, (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and you want to see your exam scripts and talk about your work, come and see me at the following time:

Monday 28th May      16:00 - 17:30

The end of year results for NB2 will be published on the noticeboard outside our classroom on Monday 28th.

The end of year results for NA1 will be published on Thursday 31st after 19:00.

Oral Exam Timetable for NB2A

Monday 21st May

16:45  Yurena S. and Marta
17:00  Elba and Yurena G.
17:15  Sari and Laura
17:30  Leti and Adela
17:45  Lucy and Pepe
18:00  Alberto and Daniel
18:15  Paz and Mar

Wednesday 23rd May

16:45  Guillermo and Nisa
17:00  Mónica and Trini
17:15  Naira and Carla
17:30  Manuel and Sherry

Oral Timetable NA1

Monday 28th May
6.50 pm	Jose Serrano	Carla
7.20 pm	Lorena	Expédito
7.40 pm	Rosario	Isabel
8.00 pm	Daida	Irina
8.20 pm 6.30 pm	Pedro	Ana Elisa

Calendario de Matrícula Alumnado Oficial

Les Tres Riches Heures Du Duc de Berry (The Book of Hours), June. Limbourg Brothers.

Alumnado que pasa a NB2 / NI2 / NA2 y repetidores:  del 4 al 15 de junio de 2012.

Alumnado que pasa a NI1 / NA1: del 18 al 22 de junio de 2012.

Horario de matrícula:  martes y viernes de 9:00 a 13:00

                                    de lunes a jueves de 17:00 a 18:30

 

May Exams

Our young boffin looks forward to his May exams

Timetable:
NB2A
Writing: (2 tasks):  Monday 14th May
Reading (4 tasks) and Listening (3 tasks): Wednesday 16th May
Orals (2 tasks): Monday 21st May; Wednesday 23rd May
Feedback: Wednesday 23rd from 6 o'clock to 6.45; Monday 28th May from 4 o'clock to 5.30 pm

NB2C
Writing: (2 tasks):  Tuesday 15th May
Reading (4 tasks) and Listening (3 tasks): Thursday 17th May
Orals (2 tasks): Tuesday 22nd May; Thursday 24th May
Feedback: Thursday 24th from 6 o'clock to 6:45 for those students who have completed the four papers; Tuesday 29th May from 7 o'clock to 8 o'clock (everybody)

NA1
Writing: (2 tasks): Monday 14th May
Listening (3 tasks): Wednesday 16th May
Reading: (3 tasks): Monday 21st May
Orals (2 tasks): Wednesday 16th; Wednesday 23rd; Monday 28th
Feedback: I'll let you know when I can find a space

The results of the exams will be published on our notice board on Thursday 31st from 7 o'clock onwards.

This Week's Quote

Notice how short Gandhi's index finger is - the finger of the "ego" or the "persona".

'The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.' Mahatma Gandhi.

(Thanks to Liz for sharing this quote with us.)

This Week's Environment

The video speaks for itself, don't you agree?

This Week's Politics

Francois Hollande, president-elect of France

Why "left"?  Why "right"? Find out here.

This Week's Listening NA1

If you did not receive the answers for Listening CD 5 by email, please let me know.

Some Advice for NA1

Make sure you can distinguish between a formal and an informal writing style.

Can you write:

• an email / a letter to a friend?
• an email / letter to an unknown person?
• an article?
• a composition to express your opinion?
• a report?

Look carefully at the example writing tasks in our textbook and the work that you've sent me throughout the academic year (both written and oral). What were you mistakes? Why did you make them? How can you improve upon them?

It would be very useful to read the post on the "teacher-detective" on this blog. Scroll down to find it.

This Week's Sporting Moment

Olympic Games flame lit in Greece. You can find out more here.

Ths Week's Culture Corner

What makes the British tick? (What makes them think and behave as they do.) Find out here.

Source: Oxford University Press

¿Qué busca un profesor-detective en una tarea escrita?

• tratamiento total y desarrollo amplio de cada punto del contenido
• adaptación adecuada a las convenciones organizativas propias del texto
• organización eficaz, bien punctuada, unida y coherente, con una gran variedad de conectores
• léxico muy rico y variado
• gramática correcta, variada y propia de nivel
• registro adecuado al propósito de la tarea y del destinatario
• ortografía correcta

Writing Exam NB2 - Some Advice

There are two tasks. In the first task, you are asked to write about 60 - 80 words; the maximum mark is 4 points. In the second task, you have to write between 100 - 130 words. The maximum mark here is 6 points. The exam lasts 70 minutes. You must write in black or blue ink. (Not pencil.)

You must have a total of at least 5 points to pass this paper.

Here are some questions to help you revise.

Can you write:

• a note?
• an informal email / letter to a friend?
• a formal  email / letter to an unknown person?

Can you talk about:

• yourself?
• your work / studies?
• your family and friends?
• your interests?
• your holidays?
• your city / town?
• your future plans?

Can you:

• make suggestions?
• ask for suggestions?
• give advice?
• offer to help?
• compare and contrast?
• give opinions?
• talk about what you like / don't like?
• ask for permission?
• agree / disagree?
• explain?
• apologise?
• thank somebody?
• invite?

Can you correctly use:

• linkers? (First of all, . . . , Secondly, . . . , Lastly . . . ; However, while, so, because, though . . ;)
• interesting expressions? (Nowadays, Actually, Another factor to take into account is . . . )

Do you know the characteristics of:

• notes: (informal language, friendly register, contracted verb forms - I'll see you later)
• emails: (To . . . From . . .  Subject . . . )
• letters: (Where do I put my address? Where do I put the date? Where do I put my name? If it's a formal letter, where do I put the name and the address of the person I'm writing to?)

When do we say:

• Dear Sir / Madam
• Dear Mrs Jones
•  Yours faithfully
•  Yours sincerely
•  Best wishes
• Love
• Kisses
• I look forward to hearing from you
• I'm looking forward to hearing from you
• Write soon!

 Tip: look carefully at all of the written work you have done. What mistakes did you make? Why? What is the correct form? Also, check the feedback from your oral tasks. What grammar mistakes did you make there? What is the correct form? Check the Reading and Writing Portfolios  at the back of the workbook that we've done, too.

This Week's Holiday Idea

Why not visit Wales? Find out why here.

This Week's Astronomy

Supermoon: the closest, and therefore the biggest and brightest of the year

Did you notice the supermoon this weekend? Here is a collection of images of this phenomenon from around the world.

Week Beginning Monday 30th April

Practice Tests - Certificación

If you'd like some practice for Certificación, go to the webpage of EOI Madrid here. (If I've time, I'll post some more links on another occasion.)