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.