If you need to revise the passive voice, why not have a look at this powerpoint presentation? It’s in Catalan and it includes everything we have said in the classroom.

The passive voice

Please, write down your comments about it. I will appreciate them.

I have attended three interesting lectures, all of them about the use of computers in the classroom. But if I had to highlight one of them, I would mention Susana’s intervention in the APAC’s  roundtable. She managed to include in the projecte curricular something I have only dreamed of so far: convince the parents that, instead of spending €200 in course books, they should buy a small laptop for their children. So… she’s taken THE step: getting rid of books and take absolute control of everything that happens in the classroom. Mmm… and she says she works in Sant Pere Ribes.

Sorry folks, I have to google “IES Sant Pere de Ribes computers”.

Michael Swan (APAC Convention, day 1) gave us some examples of stupid sentences that we teach in our classrooms:

“The oxen are treading on my feet” (Els bous em trepitgen els peus)

“Has your grandmother got any grandchildren?” “No, she ______” (La teva àvia té cap net? No, no en _____.)

“Those people have no teeth” (Aquella gent no té dents).

Today I attended to sessions at the APAC (Associació de Professors i Professores d’ Anglès de Catalunya) Congress. The first session, by Jeremy Harmer, dealt with how teachers include new technologies in their teaching. It was entertaining, with lots of examples and funny remarks, but I’m not sure it was any useful -apart from the general optimism he transpired. The second lecture was by Michael Swan. Michael Swan is the author of General English Usage, the grammar book most teachers keep near at hand. He’s a guru in English teaching, so everything he said sounded interesting and relevant, even though it only talked about how he got to write his book and how he has written another one that complements it. I think I’m getting the idea. So now… I’m supposed to have a look at it and maybe buy it?

Let’s see what’s in store tomorrow.

Unit 6 is dedicated to the passive voice. This video tells you everything you need to know about it. I have watched it from beginning to end and I am afraid I must say she is probably better at explaining grammar than me.

Thanks to Àlex (4th ESO D), I have realised that the link for the dossier of unit 6 was not working properly. Now everything works fine. You can download the dossier the usual way or just by clicking here.

Google has just launched a new version of Google Earth, a digital program that allows users to explore Earth by means of maps, three-dimensional images and satellite photographs. Whereas until now Google Earth only covered the planet’s land area, the new version covers the whole planet, including oceans.  [from http://www.vilaweb.cat/www/diariescola/noticia?id=3539765]

Easy exam:

1. Ten conditional sentences. Decide if they are 1st or 2nd conditional. Example: If the climate were better, they would come here more often = 2nd conditional. 
2. Complete the sentences with first conditional verbs. Example: If you practise (practise) your English, you will be (be) more fluent.
3. Complete the sentences with second conditional verbs. Example: If you practised (practise) your English, you would be (be) more fluent.
4. 20 irregular verbs. Any 20 you want, with the four columns.

Standard exam:

1. Ten half conditional sentences. Decide if they are 1st or 2nd conditional. Example: … they would come here more often = 2nd conditional.
2. Complete the sentences with the first conditional. Example: If you practise your English, you … will be more fluent or you will be happy or you will have a 10 in the exam…
3. Complete the sentences with the second conditional. Example: If you practise your English, you … wouldbe more fluent or you would be happy or you would have a 10 in the exam…
4. 30 irregular verbs. Any 30 you want, with the four columns.

Higher exam:

1. Invent 10 first conditional sentences (you can study 10 at home at write them down for the exam)
2. Invent 10 second conditional sentences (you can study 10 at home at write them down for the exam)
3. 40 irregular verbs. Any 40 you want, with the four columns.

We have dedicated four sessions to the study of story-telling in comics. We have paid special attention to the types of shots used in most cartoons: long shot, medium shot and close-up.
On the practical side, we have spent three sessions analising the opening pages of Osamu Tezuka’s ‘Future’ (included in volume 3 of ‘The Phoenix’). Students have been told to identify the type of shot, explain why the author used that particular type of shot and, in the case of frames with dialogues, translated them into Catalan.

This week we have been told about the tragic death of our former student, Sheryl Verbruggen. Teachers and students, specially those who knew her well, will miss her. God bless you, wherever you are, Sheryl.

Deze week hebben we al verteld over het tragische overlijden van onze oud-leerling, Sheryl Verbruggen. Docenten en studenten, speciaal degenen die haar goed kende, zal haar missen. God zegene u, waar u ook bent, Sheryl.