To download the listening for the B2 exam

Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4

You may listen to each track twice.

Some interesting listening to keep you entertained..

I know, English is so super entertaining, right?

10 common English expressions

7 common expressions with money

Common workplace expressions

AND!  A funny comedy clip from Miranda, in British English, but that I absolutely love.  It makes me laugh EVERY time.

MIRANDA

The Grapes of Wrath!

Before you read:

This book takes place in the 1930's, during the Great Depression. The Great Depression was a time before the war when everywhere was in financial crisis. There were a lot of problems with droughts (no water) causing a lot of farmers togo bankrupt. Most farming was done in Middle America. Unemployment was so high; there were no other options, so as a result there were a lot of migrations from Middle America to the west, towards California. People thought that California was a wonderful place with a lot of jobs and opportunities, but, the reality waiting for the migrants was quite different from the promises. After such a difficult journey, migrants had to stay in campsites that were overcrowded (too many people) and miserable. These campsites were called 'Hoovervilles', after the President of the USA at that time, Herbert Hoover. Things only got worse! There were too many workers looking for jobs, so wages (the money they receive for a job) became lower and lower. The wages were unacceptable, and often called 'starvation wages' because it was never enough money to eat! However, because people were desperate for jobs, landowners who needed cheap labour knew that they would accept the pay. Most of these jobs were only temporary, such as picking fruit or cotton. After the job was finished, homeless families had to move again.

The government responded to these problems by trying to establish temporary camps with clean toilets and bathhouses, a store (shop) that would give families credit until they get work, and power to make rules for their own community. These camps were like miniature states, and if well-managed, gave families a good opportunity to re-start their lives. Sadly, the camps could only accept a limited number of families, and were opposed by people who profited from the cheap labour of the migrants. These people were worried that giving people a healthy life and decent living conditions would make them unhappy with their wages and living conditions provided by the job (because truthfully they were unfair).

This is the situation that Tom Joad, from the novel, and his family, are in. They recently arrived at a government camp called Weedville after a terrible journey halfway across the nation, and a short stay in Hooverville.

Now, chapters one and two really set the scene for the novel, so let me put in a few words of wisdom to help your reading:

The introduction of the book opens with the quote “we’ve never been paupers before”. A pauper is another word for beggar, or poor person. This is a theme that is really important to bear in mind (a common idiom meaning to remember a piece of information) throughout this novel. The Joad family lived comfortably. They were never rich, but they’ve never had to sell off their items to make ends meet. (To make ends meet is another idiom meaning to make enough money to survive)

The book has a lot of new vocabulary, and a lot of new characters. It would be helpful for all of you to make a list of the characters, and what their place in the family is.

As for the vocabulary, a lot of you will find it difficult because they use a lot of ‘uneducated English’ in the book. The most confusing of them will be ‘ain’t’, because it is used for both ‘is not’, and ‘are not’. This is completely unacceptable English, never ever use this!!!! They also use things like Ma and Pa for Mother and Father, Grandpa and Grandma for the Grandparents, and fellows or folks as an informal way to say ‘people’. You’ll encounter a lot of uneducated English throughout the book, but it’s important to keep in mind that it was part of the culture in the area of the USA where this book takes place. There are still people in the USA that use ‘ain’t’ regularly, and you’ll see it in songs, but it is not considered real English.

Please keep lists of the vocabulary and if you need to make a sticky note with the main events after each chapter to make it easier to discuss in class, do it.  :)

Happy Reading!

Surprise!

Hello class!

I know you don't know me very well, a problem that will soon be fixed, but I happen to lead this really interesting, and very crazy, life.  So, as it happens, I got lucky and got free tickets to go to Norway, way up north inside the polar circle, for New Years!  How exciting is that!!  :)  I can't wait to go, and while I am there I will certainly write about my adventures.  The more crazy the adventure, the better.

Also, to clarify on things we must do for class.

All of you must read the Grapes of Wrath before we return.  In another post, I will provide information to help you to better understand the book and its context.

You must also do the B2 exam.  I know I told all of you we would do the exam in February, but, to be honest, I am discovering that the class isn't really all on the same page.  It's really important that we unite to pass this exam together.  So, I need to know where all of you stand so I can make the best class plan.  :)

Also, any of you who are interested in watching a TV show that I watch with my other class, and who want to talk about it, you're more than welcome.  The show is called Drop Dead Diva.  Some of you won't have time, but those who do, the English is very clear and very good for practice.  Again, I cannot stress enough, the more English the better!

And, for lovely Rosa who I missed all last week!  Below I will post some grammar exercises for negative question endings.  See? I didn't forget, did I.

Negative Question Tags Click Here

Drop Dead Diva

(You must click down at the bottom, Descarga más lenta (it's a green button). Then, you will wait I think 60 seconds. It will have, at the top, a button to download a program called Megacloud or something similar, and above it will say 'espere ___ segundos'. When it finishes with the seconds, a button will appear that says 'descarga más lenta'. This way you can download it.)

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Also, I am including this article about the attacks on Norway, as it's very relevant to my trip there.  I remember when these attacks happened, in Oslo, because I have so many friends there that I was calling them to see if they were OK.  I am glad to be going back, because it's such a lovely country with such lovely people, and they've really united after such a tragedy.  Here is the article.

I hope you all have a lovely holiday.  Keep in mind, that if any of you have any questions on the reading, on what I expect of you, do NOT hesitate to send me an email, or write on the blog.  I will be happy to answer any and all of your questions.

Have a lovely holiday!!!

Introduction

Hello B2 Group!

I am writing the first blog post just to say hello.  Throughout the vacation I will be filling this blog with interesting things.  Feel free to take time out of your busy eating and relaxation schedules to browse through some English.

I only saw two of you today, but to all of you..  Merry Christmas and have an AMAZING New Year!

See you in 2012!