Shanglish now on Twitter

It's the new year and Shanglish is getting with the times in 2015. Follow @shanglish_ondas at the new Twitter account.

Preparing for your oral presentation

Laura captivated the class with her oral presentation on the Golden Ratio this week and was kind enough to share her presentation with us here on the blog. 

Wondering how to prepare for your oral presentation? One of the most important things to remember is to bring a visual guide that compliments your topic without relying too heavily on text. In other words, keep the amount of text minimal, as too much can be distracting for your audience and will tempt you to read instead of speaking naturally about your topic. Check out Laura’s PowerPoint for an excellent example of preparation and use of an effective visual aid.

Head over heels for body expressions

This week in class we learned some new expressions and idioms related to the body and watched a short film called Head over heels. For further information about a related topic, check out the non-verbal communication entry previously posted on Shanglish.

Homework

a) Write a short response to the film Head over heels in the comments section below. Answer the following questions:

1. What was the main message of the film?
2. What does the title of the film have to do with the content and overall message?
3. What does the film demonstrate about relationships? age? co-habitation? routines?
4. Do any other body idioms from the Body Expressions Worksheet apply to ideas or scenes from this film? Please explain.
5. Additional comments / opinions / critiques

b) Choose five expressions from the Body Expressions Worksheet and write your own example or anecdote in the comments section below.

Oral presentations are back!

Oral presentations have begun. 

Last week Cristina spoke about the fascinating and complex world of wines.

The week before, Elvira captivated the class with anecdotes about Madrid's secret (and not-so-secret) legends.

Congratulations to both Cristina and Elvira on a job well done!

We look ford to the rest of the students' oral presentations this Trimester at Ondas.

Thanksgiving at Ondas

This week in conversation class we brought a little bit of Thanksgiving to Madrid. Click here if you would like to read more about Thanksgiving traditions and history.

Check out the photos of our cranberry sauce taste-test.

Cranberry sauce is a staple of this North American holiday.

...and it goes great with turkey.

So, the verdict?

The students loved it!

Next year we'll have to bring the turkey to accompany the sauce.

Telephoning

Hello everyone, here are the answers to this week's homework regarding telephoning.

4 

More Formal:                                                                  Less Formal:

Could you please hold?                                               Hang on a moment. 

Can I just ask what it's about?                                    What's  it about?

Thank you                                                                       Thanks

Certainly                                                                          Sure

Shall I put you through to her?                                  Do you want to speak to her?

5 1) b 2) c 3) not used on the telephone 4) a

7 

2) No, I´m actually from Belgium.

3) I'm afraid he's not here.

4) Actually, I'll call back later.

5) I'm afraid I won't be in the office tomorrow. / Actually, I won't be in the office tomorrow.

6) I'm afraid Heather's line is engaged. / Heather's line is actually engaged.

12

Across                               Down

1 CALL BACK                 1 CONNECTION

4 EXTENSION                2 CALLING

5 MOBILE                       3 MESSAGE

7 PUT THROUGH          6 SPEAKING

10 AFRAID                      8 HOLD

11 ENGAGED                 9 CATCH

13

1) Kyoto Ito speaking.

2) This is Juan Suarez. Can I speak to Ms Sanders, please?

3) I'll be back later.

4) Brenda isn't in the office today.

5) Do you have my mobile number?

6) I'm afraid Mr Chang isn't in the office today.

7) I'll tell him that you called.

First Day

I

Congratulations to the latest group of Conversation Class students for an excellent start on the first day of class. Here they are working hard.

2nd Conditionals: Foods we miss while travelling

The second conditional is used to talk about ‘unreal’ or impossible things.

Examples: 

If I won the lottery I´d buy a beach house in California. 

Where would you travel if you could go anywhere in the world?

If you didn’t smoke so much you’d feel a lot better.

The structure is usually if + past simple and would + infinitive. It’s not important which clause comes first.

Look at the difference between the first and second conditionals.

·       In January: If it snows tomorrow I’ll go skiing. (It might snow tomorrow.)

·       In August: If it snowed tomorrow I’d go skiing. (It almost certainly won’t snow tomorrow.)

NOTE: Although many conditional sentences use if + will/would, conditional sentences can also use other words instead of ‘if’ – e.g. ‘when’ ‘as soon as’ ‘in case’ Other modal verbs can be used instead of ‘will/would’ – e.g. ‘can/could’, ‘may’ ‘might’.

Okay, let´s put this theory into practice. I´ll go first. The question is, which foods do you miss the most while traveling or living abroad? Use the conditionals to talk about this topic.

pancake breakfast

Here is a list of 17 Foods all Americans miss while living in Europe. In my opinion, it is spot on.

       

bagel and cream cheese

• if + past simple and would + infinitive: If it was Saturday morning in California, I would eat a typical American breakfast from my favorite diner.
• if + past simple and would + infinitive: If I could, I would have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch everyday.
• if + past simple and would + infinitive: If I had to choose, I would say I miss Thanksgiving dinner the most.



tex-mex

• I might be able to eat more authentic Mexican food if I lived in California.

• When I can, I may bring some hot sauce back to Spain with me.
• I will try to make my own bagels here, if I can.
• As soon as I go to visit, my family will have a BBQ.
• In case I can´t return this year, I will still enjoy the spanish cuisine!

With a partner, discuss the things you miss most while traveling abroad, using these structures:

• if + will/would
• when
• as soon as
• in case
• can/could
• may
• might

Why do you want to learn English?

Why do you want to learn English? We would love to know!

Watch this video from Oxford University Press and complete the personalized listening activity and quiz that I have created for you on Socrative. Socrative is an interactive learning tool we will be using often in our conversation classes at Ondas Formación.

Follow these steps to log on to Socrative.:

1. Go to m.socrative.com on your computer or smartphone 
2. Enter your teacher´s room: OndasConvo
3. Type in your name.
4. Answer the questions as best you can
5. Watch the video a second time if needed

If you haven´t got time to complete the whole quiz right now, 

let us know why you are interested in learning English in the comments section below. 

Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?

So, you've planned your big vacation and you are all set to practice those hard earned English skills of yours. But once you arrive to your final destination with all those native speakers around you become a deer in headlights, unable to speak or even articulate the simplest response to basic questions. Those around you assume you are deaf and start to scream, which makes you even more nervous and in turn even more silent. Has this ever happened to you? 

Have no fear, Shanglish is here! Sign up for our Fall Conversation Classes to gain the confidence and expression skills you need in order to make yourself heard and understood.

New Dictionary and Buzz Words

I recently came across a stupendous online dictionary which is a very practical tool for all you English language learners out there. The Macmillan Dictionary compares American English and British English and has a thesaurus all rolled into one. They've also got a whole section dedicated to Buzz Words. Don't know what a buzzword is? Check out the definition by clicking here.

In our English conversation classes at Ondas, one of the areas we focus on is pragmatics. According to the Macmillan Dictionary, pragmatics is "the study of how language is used in particular situations to express a meaning or attitude that may not be obvious from the actual words". In other words, you'll learn how to express yourself and convey messages more successfully in English. Join us this fall, and in the words of Macmillan: learn English, live English, love English.

Frugal Travelers

The New York Times has a great Travel Section with a weekly article called The Frugal Traveler.

In pairs, create your own Frugal Traveler Guide for the city of your choice. You can highlight accommodation, restaurants, transportation options, activities (cultural, adventure, touristic, etc.), seasonal discounts, fairs, special celebrations, landmarks, and more.

Ondas to offer Cambridge Prep Courses

Great news! This Fall Ondas will be offering Cambridge Prep courses for the First and Advanced Exams in addition to our Conversation Classes. Times, dates and prices will be posted shortly on the Ondas webpage.

Here are some examples of the Speaking Exam portions of the FCE and CAE, make sure to check out the examiner´s comments after watching.

First Speaking Exam:

Advanced Speaking Exam:

Join us this academic year and let Ondas Formación help you achieve your English language goals!

CURSOS de preparación exámenes cambridge: FCE y CAE 

DESCRIPCIÓN DEL CURSO:

Hoy en día la mayoría de empresas y universidades requieren de un alto nivel de inglés y los exámenes de Cambridge te permitirán comprobar tu conocimiento. Ondas Formación te ofrece cursos de preparación para el FCE y el CAE con profesores nativos.

¿Qué nos diferencia de otros centros de preparación?

Nuestros profesores llevan años formando alumnos para adquirir estos certificados e incluso algunos de ellos han sido examinadores, por lo que te podrán facilitar recomendaciones sobre como afrontar estas pruebas.

Los grupos son reducidos, entre 4 y 10 alumnos.

Te ofrecemos la posibilidad de realizar simulacros de exámenes fuera de las horas lectivas.

Disponemos de materiales imprescindibles para tu preparación final así como salas equipadas con el material audiovisual más moderno. 

Niveles:

1) El First, también conocido como el First Certificate in English (FCE), es un certificado oficial de un nivel intermedio alto (B2). Demuestra que dominas la expresión escrita y hablada a un nivel cotidiano en situaciones laborales, académicas, etc.

2) El Advanced, también conocido como el Cambridge Advanced Exam (CAE), es un certificado oficial de un nivel avanzado (C1). Demuestra que estás capacitado para realizar investigaciones complejas, comunicarte a un nivel profesional y destacar en reuniones y entrevistas. El CAE acredita tus habilidades lingüísticas ante instituciones educativas y laborales a un nivel muy elevado.

Learning English is a Life Changer

Check out this article on Second Language Identity to see how learning English can be a life changing experience.

The main points? Writing in a second language can be a liberating experience which allows us to express ourselves from a different point of view.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and put pen to paper, in English!

Need more inspiration? Click here and try describing these awe-inspiring trees in English.

Travelers: Bruno Catalano

Bruno Catalano, French sculptor, created these beautifully imperfect bronze sculptures to celebrate the city of Marseilles´ position as the 2013 European Capital of Culture. Called “Les Voyageurs”, they depict realistic human workers with large parts of their bodies missing, making them truly extraordinary and unique. 

With a partner, discuss the following questions

1. What message do you think the artist is trying to convey with these sculptures?
2.  What emotion do you think the artist is trying to convey with these sculptures and what does it have to do with the title of the art piece? 
3. Do you think the sculptures are missing something?
4. Do you think these “voyagers” have left something behind on their travels? If so, what have they left behind?        
5. Can you identify with these voyagers? Why or why not? 

James Brown

Oxford Dictionaries puts out a great Word Blog that highlights topics ranging from untranslatable words to the origin of the´banana´. My personal favorite post so far recognizes the linguistic contributions of the Godfather of Funk: the one and only Mr. James Brown.

Check out some the blog posts by clicking here.

Superbad (1970)

Get Up (I Feel Like Being) a Sex Machine! (1970)

Ondas Video and Radio Stars

Here is the final product of our Spring Trimester Radio Show, Shipwrecked. Congratulations to all of our students for your hard work and progress throughout the course and a SPECIAL THANKS to our audio-visual team, Diego, Iñaki, Manolo and Manu for a phenomenal job in the studio and post production.

Ondas Formacion is an amazing place to learn and to teach English because of their top-notch audio-visual installations,equipment and staff.  Enjoy the video and join us in September 2014 for another year of English at Ondas!

Procrastination and Conspiracy Theories

Procrastination
Watch this video about procrastination.
How would you define procrastination?
In what ways do you procrastinate?
  



In pairs, come up with your Top 7 tips for beating procrastination using should and shouldn’t.

Now compare your answers with these Top 7 Tips from Kieran Donaghy´s website, Film English.

Conspiracy Theories
What are some of the most famous conspiracy theories? Do you think that they have some truth to them?

In books like Brave New World and 1984 and movies like ike Brazil or Clockwork Orange the authors theorize about future societies, government conspiracies and conspiracies related to social control. Watch the trailer from Brazil and discuss the following questions as a class:

• Which popular conspiracy theories are shown in the trailer? 

• Do you think that some of the predictions the authors made in the 1940´s have come true and, if so, to what extent?
  

Shipwrecked: Spring Radio Show

Welcome to the Ondas English Radio Show!

Students wrote an original story of survival called "Shipwrecked"...

..and used costumes to liven things up. From left to write we have the nanny, the athlete, the Math teacher, the grandmother and the poet.



Great acting and great use of English!



Congratulations to Cristina, Elvira, Pilar, German and Rocio for a job well done!

Survey says...wait, wait... don't tell me!

This week we are practicing expressing opinions and formulating questions and answers correctly. We will take a look at the two formats below and come up with our own game show surveys and news-related questions. 

Survey Says...

"Survey says..." is one of the most popular quotes from American game show culture. The phrase was coined by the host of Family Feud, the popular game show where families battle it out over survey results to quotidian questions such as "When a woman is trying to catch a man, name something she pretends to like." Check out this episode to get a better idea:

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

From National Public Radio, better known as NPR,Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! is a radio news program with a twist. Callers are given three quotes about some of the week´s most talked-about headlines and are asked key details about each story. The panel of hosts then give their comical opinions about the intricacies of these headlines. If callers get two out the three questions right, they are given a prize. Listen to this week's podcast here.

City Comparisons and Accents

Compare and Contrast these two images from one of the most popular squares in Madrid:

Plaza Callao 1920

Plaza Callao 2014

Now watch this video and do the same for London:
London 1927 and 2013

• What differences and similarities can you see between London in 1927 and London in 2013?
• What differences and/or similarities can you see between London and Madrid in the 1920´s?

Pronunciation

Let´s practice our American and British English:

Vocabulary
Match the American and British English 
elevator, potato chips, baggage, notebook, garbage can, subway, railroad, vacation, movies, flashlight, truck, automobile, restroom, candy, pants, sneakers, purse, french fries, cookies, airplane, cell phone, fall, student, cab, gas station, mail box, eraser, drugstore

British English	American English
lavatory
chemist's
lorry
lift
biscuits
luggage
car
post box
trousers
cinema
chips
crisps
rubbish bin
petrol station
handbag
pupil
mobile phone
trainers
sweets
aeroplane
torch
autumn
holiday
taxi
railway
underground train
rubber
exercise book

And just for fun, a scene from one of my favorite films, "A Fish Called Wanda". Do you love languages as much as Jamie Lee Curtis?!?!

Ridiculous Laws

What are some of the silliest laws in your country, state, province, or city?

Have you ever had a run-in with the law while travelling abroad?

Every country has a different set of laws and sometimes to outsiders they can seem a bit strange. And sometimes these laws are just down right ridiculous.Want to freshen your breath while visiting Singapore? Before you reach for that stick of Big Red, think twice:chewing gum is strictly prohibited in Singapore.

Check out this article from Travel and Leisure about the world´s strangest laws.

Here is a more extensive list of some of the most ridiculous laws from around the world.

Group activity: We will now distribute a list of 10 outrageous but real laws from around the world. You must add 3 fake ones. Next, we will read some of the real laws and some of the fake ones in front of the class. The class will try to identify which laws are real and which are fake. If a group fools the others with one of their fake laws, they are awarded 100 points. Good luck!

Now, check out this video about Barristers in the UK and complete the worksheet.