PAST SIMPLE - LISTEN AND REPEAT

Listen to the sentences and repeat after them, it's good practice!

IRREGULAR VERBS

Learn some irregular verbs with this video. Repeat after him. It's good practice to remember them!

WHAT'S THE DATE TODAY?

There are two ways to say the date:

     - Today is Friday, 20th January, 2012
     - Today is Friday, January 20th, 2012



To say the date you need, among other things, to know the days of the week, the months of the year, the year, and the ordinal numbers, of course. Now you can listen to them.

And now you can record yourself and compare with the original.

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FASCINATING FESTIVALS

…but if you go, don’t wear new clothes!

Read the text while you listen to it. Then record yourself and compare your recording with the original. This will improve your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills!!

THE TOMATINA

The Tomatina festival takes place on the last Wednesday in August in Buñol, Spain. The ‘tomato battle’ starts at 11 o’clock in the morning, and continues for two hours. During the Tomatina 35,000 people throw 125,000 kilos of tomatoes!

THE CARNAVALE D'IVREA

In January (the exact date changes every year) you can go to Ivrea in Italy and take part in the Carnevale d’Ivrea, where people throw oranges at each other. If you don’t want people to throw an orange at you, you have to wear a red hat!

THE WATER FESTIVAL

Thailand has a Water Festival (Songkran) every April to celebrate the New Year. It starts on 13th April and lasts for two days. People throw water at each other all day and also at night.

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MY DAY

Listen to Jaquie talking about her day.



Everyday I get up at seven o´clock. I have a shower and I get dressed. I have breakfast at quarter past seven. I usually have a big breakfast: cereal, toast, fruit and coffee. I get to work at quarter to nine. I work at a sports centre. I answer the phone at reception and give people the keys to the changing rooms. I start work at nine o'clock. At quarter past one I have lunch with my colleagues in the cafeteria. I usually finish work at six o'clock. Sometimes I stay late at the centre to do some exercise. I get home at quarter to eight. I have dinner at half past eight. Then I watch TV. I go to bed at half past eleven.

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And now, read the text and record yourself. Then listen to your recording, you can compare with the original and repeat it as many times as you want. Come on, don't be shy! This is good speaking practice.

THE MYSTERY OF OKINAWA

In Okinawa people live a very long time. They are hardly ever ill. Many people live to be 100 – more people than in other parts of the world. Why? What is their secret?
 
Read the text while you listen to it. Then record yourself and compare your recording with the original. This will improve your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills!!

A healthy diet



The Okinawans eat vegetables, fruit, fish, soya, and rice. They usually have seven portions of fruit and vegetables a day. People don’t usually drink much alcohol or smoke. They don’t eat much meat or fast food.

Exercise



Physical activity is very important for the people of Okinawa. Martial arts, walking, traditional dancing, and gardening are very popular with people of all ages.

Low stress



In many countries people have healthy diets and do exercise. But the unusual thing about the people in Okinawa is that they are not stressed. They are relaxed and take their time. Buses are hardly ever on time, and people often arrive an hour late for meetings. Every evening hundreds of people, young and old, go to the beach to watch the beautiful sunset. People often meditate to relax.

Always active



Another important thing is that people often work until they are 80 – sometimes until 90! In the Okinawan dialect there is no word for ‘retired’. They are busy and active all their lives. Old people don’t stay at home – they go out and meet friends.

When journalists ask people ‘What is the secret of your long life?’, they answer ‘We are happy, we are always positive, and we are never in a hurry.’

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DOUBLE LIFE

Listen to the interview. Read the text while you are listening. Then record yourself and compare your recording with the original. This will improve your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills!!


1 What do you do?
I’m an artist. I draw and paint pictures for magazines, books, CD covers – all kinds of things.

 
2 Where do you work?
I work at home. I have a room just for working in.

 
3 How many hours do you work?
I normally work about eight hours a day, from 9.30 to 5.30. Sometimes I work again in the evenings or at weekends, when I’m in a hurry to finish a picture.

 
4 Do you earn a lot of money?
It depends. I earn from about £250 to £3,000 for a picture. Sometimes I have a lot of work but sometimes I don’t. That’s a problem. And I don’t have paid holidays.

 
5 Do you like your job? Why?
Yes. I love it, because every day is different, and I like using my imagination.

6 What don’t you like about your job?
It’s stressful when I need to work fast and the ideas don’t come. And sometimes it’s lonely when you don’t work with other people.

 
7 How do you relax after work?
I play the bass in a band called International Airport. We play at weekends in pubs and clubs.

TYPICALLY BRITISH?

Four foreigners in Britain talk about the people and the country...

Listen to what they say. Read the text while you are listening. Then record yourself and compare your recording with the original. This will improve your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills!!
 

Nicolae from Romania works in a pub in Manchester


‘British people like children but not in restaurants or pubs. In my pub we have a rule: ‘No children under 12’. People in Britain drink a lot of coffee – cappuccino and espresso are really popular. They drink a lot of beer too – men and women.’

Alexandra from Russia is a student at Bristol university


‘This is not a good country for smokers! Many coffee bars and restaurants are ‘no smoking’. I live with three British students and they don’t smoke. When I want a cigarette I go into the garden.’

Carlos is a tourist from Spain


‘People read the newspaper everywhere – on the train, on the bus, at the bus stop. And the newspapers are really big! Cars stop in Britain when you stand on the zebra crossing – it’s incredible! Cars don’t stop for you in Madrid.’

Marília from Brazil works as an ‘au pair’ in Cambridge


‘I think my British family is typical. The woman doesn’t cook – she just puts a pizza in the microwave. But she watches cooking programmes on TV every day! The man cooks at the weekend – he makes fantastic Indian curries. Their child has a terrible diet. She eats ‘fish fingers’ and chips and she goes to Burger King every week.’

WHERE ARE ENGLISH WORDS FROM?

 Read the text while you listen to it.

 

Where are English words from?

From Old English
Many basic English words come from Old English, e.g. England, house, woman, man, child, bird, water. They sometimes have irregular pronunciation.

From Latin
Other English words come from Latin, e.g. family, wine, number, school, educate.

From French
Some English words come from French, e.g. royal, hotel, menu, beef.

From other languages
Today English is an international language. Thousands of English words come from other languages, e.g. siesta (Spanish), judo (Japanese).

New words
Every year hundreds of words come into English from new technology, e.g. Internet, text message, e-mail, modem.

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And now, why don't you read the text and record yourself? Then compare your recording with the original. Go ahead!!!!

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Time for you to speak!!!! Listen to the audio and at the same time read the sentences. When you feel confident record yourself by pressing the red button. Use your own personal information and copy the entonation. When you have finished you can listen to yourself by clicking on the play button. If you are not satisfied with your recording you can record yourself again as many times as you want. Good luck!!!!



1. What's your name ?
My name is Jenny.
2. Where do you come from?
I come from China.
3. Where do you live?
I live in Parramatta.
4. What's your address?
My address is 54 Pine Street, Annandale.
5. What's your telephone number?
My telephone number is 9723 4444.
6. How old are you?
I'm 28 years old.
7. What's your nationality?
I'm Indonesian.
8. Are you married?
No, I'm not. I'm single.
9. Have you got any children?
Yes, I have.
10. What's your occupation?
I'm a doctor.

DESCRIBING A HOUSE

Watch this video to help you remember vocabulary about furniture:




Now, look at this picture of a house. What can you see there? How many floors? Which rooms are there on each floor? What kind of furniture is there in each room? Is there a garden? What is missing?

You can write a composition and hand it to your teacher. Or maybe you prefer to record yourself so you practise speaking.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

These are the Green, it's a beautiful summer day and they are in the garden, but what are they doing? Write sentences and send them to your teacher.

Or if you prefer you can record yourself, remember that it is good practice!!!

DESCRIBING A PICTURE

This is Van Gogh's room at Arles. I am sure you already know the picture but what can you see there? Describe it using prepositions of place, there is and there are, and of course, don't forget to use some adjectives!!!!

Write a composition and hand it to your teacher. Or you can practise speaking by recording yourself. Remember that the best way to learn to speak is speaking!!

PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE 2

Look at the picture and then describe it by recording yourself and send it to your teacher.

For example: Emma is in front of Barbara, between Donna and Frank.

RHYMES TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH

These are 64 easy rhymes with words and pictures to practise speaking, reading, and listening in English. And to improve or revise your vocabulary aswell. Play the video and listen to the rhyme, then stop the video and record yourself, compare with the original and you can send it to your teacher via email, if you want, of course!!!




Record yourself as many times as you want. Remember the formula

PRACTICE + PATIENT = SUCCESS!!!!