Hi again,

Sorry for being blunt but I'll cut to the chase. This post is only for my Intermedio 1 students

Okay. This very morning Telma voiced her suspicion that you may not be getting all the attention that you deserve. The truth of the matter is rather simple: I have two B2 groups, which means I tend to focus harder on their problems. Avanzado 2 allows you to obtain a much coveted diploma that many students need for various reasons (some of which are job-related). So you should understand that the needs of many sometimes outweigh those of Intermedio 1...

Anyway, below this line you have your own magazine. I hope it helps you learn a few new words.

Hello, my dear students. The course is over. That’s a cold fact. The relevant question now (which you should be asking yourselves) seems to be: what do I know now that I didn’t know last September? That’s part of a reality check you all should try. Self-delluding excuses may help you muddle through some tough times but this is the hour of truth. So the question is: have or haven’t I learnt much? Am I or am I not up to the challenge?

(That is meant to be encouraging, not depressing).

Avanzado 2

I have put together these little magazines that you may decide to speed-read, download or even print out to have it as a keepsake. It’s entirely up to you. Enjoy.

This is the magazine for the students in my morning class.

This one is the magazine for the students in my evening class.

Intermedio 1

I am in the process of finishing your magazine. But so that you know that I haven't forgotten about you, here is a website that Idoia might appreciate. There are countless sites that cover the same old area. That one is just one of them. Remember that a well-structured essay does not depend on the use of all those linkers. For starters, fancy words such as furthermore, nonetheless or moreover sound a bit off if the rest of the text doesn't quite keep the same standard. But anyway, I understand your concern. Remember that the oral exam will take place on Wednesday. You will find a copy of the notice (= convocatoria) on the classroom door. I will upload another copy here sometime before Wednesday.

Hi there!

I must be the laziest inhabitant of the blogosphere but, truth be told, I’m a busy man. Anyway I promise I will post something you may find useful for the impending exams. Today, however, I decided to share with all of you something with a literary flavor, i.e. something rather useless… Bear with me, please.

You may remember how I mentioned the old concept that in face-to-face communication 55% of the message depends on the speaker’s body language. The tone of voice accounts for 38 % and only 7% is conveyed by the words which are uttered. Well, that happens to be an oversimplified version of a statement once made by Albert Mehrabian, a psychology professor from UCLA (if you want to know more about it you may click here). Whatever the actual reasons for its success, the tantalizing idea has crept into college classrooms and even become a part of popular culture to the point that even Hollywood comedies mention it (check out the opening scene of “Hitch”, a Will Smith vehicle, and pay attention to 01:00). I personally think that the concept may not be 100% accurate in every single case but it definitely feels true, doesn’t it? More often than not nonverbal communication overshadows the importance of the words a speaker chooses to utter and words, my dear students, is what we are all about at the EOI.

Why am I talking about this? Because we often neglect the importance of stress and intonation and I’ve found a beautiful way of illustrating just that.

Unlike what is happening (or rather NOT happening) in Spain with Cervantes’s anniversary, in the UK they have taken the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death quite seriously. In their celebrations the Brits have shown panache, originality and their unique sense of humor (yes, humor without the “u”, I write in American English).

An exquisite example of this healthy approach to their treasured history was offered by the BBC in this hilarious sketch that saw the likes of Paapa Essiedu, Benedict Cumberbatch and Judi Dench repeat what is arguably the most famous sentence ever penned by the Bard. The show ends with a plot device that I dare call princeps ex machina (yes, the term is mine, don’t bother to google it). Anyway, if you are patient enough, you will be rewarded. Do enjoy.

David Tennant & Company - A Line Of Hamlets por jacksmith2016