3A - INVERSION

As promised, some exercises on INVERSION.

HO: INVERSION

English Conversation Club

After the failure to have both Steven and Anthony as language assistants and the coming of Philip, the assistant, we've been fighting hard to keep them here and to design something useful for the students. As a result, the English Coffee Hour is now reshaped, redefined and renamed as the new English Conversation Club. 

The aim is to have a flexible timetable with at least four hours (different times) devoted to conversation for NA2 in small groups monitored by either Steven or Anthony. Registration will be compulsory to attend the club and a minimum fee has been set for that purpose (after all, this is an off-the-schedule thing). Should you be interested, please let me know in class a.s.a.p.

English Book Fair

An independent book retailer will be holding a stand in the Pit (next to the cafeteria) on Feb 8-9 from 10:30 to 20:15 with all kind of English books and discounts up to 50%. Literature, reference (dictionaries, etc), children's, general fiction and the like.

It may be interesting for you (after all, on you way in or out of your lessons, you can just pop in and see if there's anything worth reading. 

See the poster: English Book Fair 

THERE'S STILL SOME HOPE...

After much work, there seems to be a light. 

We've been confirmed a new assistant is coming. That's good, so far, but we believe it's been unfair to Steven and Anthony. That's why we'll fight hard to get them here to stay for the rest of the year. 

Stay tuned... Out from the dark, the English Coffee Hour may come back to life!

WARNING!!!

THE ENGLISH COFFEE HOUR IS CANCELLED.

AND SO ARE THE LESSONS WITH STEVEN AND ANTHONY, THE LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS. THEY ARE PACKING...

After so much talking and working on it, it seems that the education authority is not supporting their enrollment in the school. Hence, once again, we are at a loss for language assistants. And this time without further hope.

I understand these days are difficult and there's pressure to make ends meet... but it seems we are always the ones to suffer.

I'm really sorry to see Steven and Anthony go, as they were really keen on working at the school. Indeed, they started last week even though they hadn't signed up their contract yet. Now it's quite clear they will never do.

We can't do anything else now. You may be able to do something about it, though...

Reading Suggestion

If you are looking for a book that is entertaining, inspiring, and curious at a time, and not too hard for a reading, this could be a choice (8€):

Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

PLOT: January 1946: writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And so begins a remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

Short video where one of the authors speaks about the book: VIDEO.

You can also read part of chapter one and value how hard you find its reading: EXCERPT

Deduction

Due to my own mistake, I forgot uploading the handout on Deduction... but here it is at last. I doesn't really add up anything new, but it may help organise ideas and clear out any doubt. Use it as a stepping stone to revise this grammar field and to add any further information that suits your needs.  

HO - Deduction

Free Conversation Club for Advanced level

As I've already told you, we are quite lucky to have two language assisstants to take up the gap created by Dave. Now, two Americans are joining the school. Steven will take care of morning classes and Anthony will come in the evenings. I'll supply details about their schedule in class.

Then, as a free, extra issue, there'll be a English Coffee Hour (well, two hours, in fact). You can join in the Pit (the core gap in the heart of the school) in the tables next to the Cafeteria, and have a drink or eat a snack as you relax and spend some time talking in English with Steven, with your classmates or with other NA students. The idea is to talk about current events or topics of your own interest in a pleasant, friendly environment.

This English Coffee Hour will take place every other week, starting on Tuesday, January 17, from 11:30 to 13:30. I understand that holding this event in the morning could make it difficult for those of you who work in the morning. Unfortunately, the range of hours to choose from was very limited and that was all I could make of it.

Have a try. It's just a late morning coffee... with a zest of English practice!!

The Way Things Sound

There are many words  in English to express the way things sound. Fortunately, we are not going to use them all. Again, I'm offering you a vocabulary map to revise what you already know, to present new issues and to make room for any other areas of interest you may want to add. Feel free to work on the map os, if you don't feel like it, just go through and revise!

HO: The Way Things Sound

Writing an article

There are many ways to write an article and many ways to train and get ready to write one. If you go Googling about it, you'll find a lot of tips on the topic. If you don't  won't to bother much, here's a handout with the key facts you should consider before writing you article.

HO: WRITING AN ARTICLE

The many meanings of GET

GET is by far the commonest verb in the English language (let aside BE, of course). It is present in every level of register, whether formal or informal, oral or written. You are already used to many of its meanings, but no doubt there will be other  still unknown. I hope this chart helps you get a general view of it.

HO: The meanings of GET

Keys for Unit 2C

For those who skipped classes last week, here's a handout with the keys to unit 2C (Breaking up). Try to go through all sections on unit 2C on your own; once done and revised, check the keys to contrast your degree of success. 

HO: keys to 2C

50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

There are 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

Written after Paul Simon's divorce from first wife Peggy Harper (1975), this song is a mistress's humorous advice to a husband on ways to end a relationship: Just slip out the back, Jack/Make a new plan, Stan... You can consider what the message really is... if there's a message in the song. Either way, just listen and enjoy. The rhythm is good for a song written +35 years ago.

Paul Simon - 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

"The problem is all inside your head", she said to me
The answer is easy if you take it logically
I'd like to help you in your struggle to be free
There must be fifty ways to leave your lover

She said it's really not my habit to intrude
Furthermore, I hope my meaning won't be lost or misconstrued
But I'll repeat myself, at the risk of being crude
There must be fifty ways to leave your lover
Fifty ways to leave your lover

You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free

Ooo slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just listen to me
Hop on the bus, Gus
Don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
Get yourself free

She said it grieves me so to see you in such pain
I wish there was something I could do to make you smile again
I said I appreciate that and would you please explain
About the fifty ways

She said why don't we both just sleep on it tonight
And I believe in the morning you'll begin to see the light
And then she kissed me and I realized she probably was right
There must be fifty ways to leave your lover
Fifty ways to leave your lover

You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Oh you hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free

Slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
You just listen to me
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free

Angry Break Up Songs

Download pdf (see below)

Talking 'bout the end of love

Thanks Rocío for sending the links to these two songs dealing with a break up crisis... Before listening (if you do listen to them), it could prove to be interesting to learn about the context and background.

Wikipedia: Eamon

Wikipedia: The song"F**k You"

Wikipedia: Frankee

Wikipedia: FURB 

Warning: The lyrics are both expletive and explicit. 

Singer: Eamon

Song: F**k You (I Don't Want You Back)

YouTube Videoclip

YouTube Sing-AlongVideoclip (lyrics on)

Singer: Frankee

Song: F.U.R.B. (F*ck You Right Back)

YouTube Videoclip

YouTube Sing-Along Videoclip (lyrics on)

Download both lyrics on a pdf file: Angry Break Up Songs