In Memoriam

Jorge Luis Borges was blind and old when he traveled to Egypt. He crouched down and ran his fingers through the African sand for a while, after which he remarked that, by doing that, he had altered the face of the desert. Poetic, hyperbolic and yet accurate. By the same token one could easily argue that he had also changed not only a part of the desert, but also the universe… My mind wanders to that anecdote every time someone I know dies.

María is gone. She passed last week. I believe she was only 32 years old… and no matter how odd we may consider the statement. The universe is slightly different today. Our classes will certainly not be the same every Monday and Wednesday at 16:00.

Those of you who were in the classroom last Wednesday may remember how I mentioned that some Americans don’t seem to be aware of the word “chickpea”. Instead they use the rather contradictory term “garbanzo bean”. Likewise, I said, they wouldn’t probably know what to call a “bota de vino”. María objected that she had seen “botas de vino” in a U.S. store which were not labeled “wineskins” (the actual word in English) but “bota bags”. She then produced her cellphone and proceeded to show us a photo that proved her claim. I asked her to email me that picture so I could upload it here. Well, María did send me the photograph (which you can see below these lines).

May she rest in peace.

Okay, what can I say? I’m busy. I know it may sound like a rather poor excuse but the truth is… researching all my jokes takes up most of my time I got. So, now you know my secret: I can't really improvise a joke. I use jokes I find on the internet and I rehearse them so I can slip them into my classes and pass them off as material of my own.

Ok.. seriously, I am busy. Honestly. The exams are round the corner and, as you probably know, it's my duty to take care of the technical side of things (checking computers, editing and burning CDs and DVDs and that kind of stuff). It's time-consuming and not as fun as teaching you guys but someone's gotta do it, right?

Anyhow, I decided you may get a kick out this on-line English test. Regardless of your EOI level it will certainly boost your self-esteem quite a bit. Trust me on this.

Of course I also have news. C1 students! Do not forget that being an EOI student this year does not automatically guarantee you will have a place in October (should you choose to come back). The official registration process should start sometime in July.

More stuff, for those of you intermediate students that didn't come to class the day we discussed the Scottish accent you may want to check out this classic (and hilarious) clip which comes to show how complicated pronunciation is even among native speakers!

Hello everyone. Some of my intermediate students have pointed out that I have neglected them a little. Granted, my latest posts deal with issues that only the C1 class might find relevant. That's why I've decided to come up with something that all of you should find interesting. It is quite simple, really. I would like you to watch this video and think about the level you think those candidates have... We will discuss it in the classroom.

Thanks Pedro for sending me the link to yesterday's BOC. It seems now that our dear rulemakers have decided to (once and for all) call a spade a spade (if you know what I mean). Up until just a few days the official term for the title was "acreditación". Oddly enough, I have just noticed that the latest version of the "Guía del Candidato" (not the one available on Educantabria, which is dated) consistently makes use of the expression "certificación" when it refers to the C1 exam, as does the aforementioned BOC. On page 3 of yesterday's issue we can actually read the following :

La posesión del Certificado del Nivel C1 acredita una competencia de idioma del nivel C1 del Consejo de Europa. 

All I can say is... this has been a rather convoluted affair. There has been a number of unclear and even contradictory message. I trust the matter has been officially settled. It appears you guys are going to have the chance to obtain a real certificate. So be it! As far as I'm aware, though, you will have to register for the exam and pay the fees (all of you except for Puerto). Good luck!

For those of you that got curious about Reggie Watts here is the entire video as you may watch it on YouTube. After enjoying this performance you might be ready to say that you've seen as much as you have seen. Anyhow, we agreed that this may be C2 stuff. Still, there's loads you can learn from Mr. Watts. How to waffle in style could be the most practical aspect of it all (dynamic changes and thought processes being not necessarily excluded).

Before I forget, there's something my C1 students should know. This may actually sound a little weird but the fact is those of you who decide to take the June examination will obtain what has come to be termed "acreditación nacional", which means (in plain English) it is a kind of certificate that will attest your command of the English language and ought to be recognized anywhere is Spain. Having said that nobody in the upper echelons of our dear Consejería de Educación y Deportes has dared call that a "Certificado de Nivel C1" but it certainly comes close to being one. For all intents and purposes it will be an official document that will allow you to (let's say) hold a position in a public school in Murcia which requires C1 competency in English. It will probably be useless if you plan to work for the Finnish government but hey, at least it's not going to be the only-valid-in-Cantabria "diploma"  it was going to be.  In short, you'll get an accreditation NOT a certificate.

And now the learning material. This idea originated in the C1 classes but may also be helpful for those of you that are struggling to master the secrets of the intermediate level. I'm talking about those practical (if somewhat unfair) labels we sometimes use to refer to certain "social types". This website offers a funny chart where you might want to try and look for your own description.

Long time no see, uh? Well, well. Here I am again. The above photo was taken at the end of a C1 level class. It speaks volumes about the type of conversations that we have in the classroom, doesn't it?

Anyhow, today I will concentrate on the subject matter we're dealing with in the Intermediate courses, that is, telling lies. I don't know if many of you out there still remember a TV series called "Lie to me" which centered precisely on the refined techniques that experts (profilers, interrogators, analysts, etc,) use in order to determine if an informant/witness is telling the truth or not. I found this website, where a writer shamelessly promotes a book he published. The language is simple yet interesting. Pay attention to his use of the verb "to spot" and crime related vocabulary (falsely accused, embezzler) as well as some terms connected with body movements (which we have touched on in class, remember?). Last but not least, don't overlook collocations (catch/liar, severe/offense, commit/murder, etc.).