Hi there! As you have read, this blog was created by students from EOI Tortosa, as a way to practice English during the summer — and beyond. We are starting 5th level (OMG!) at the end of September, so it’s important to keep practicing this summer, if we don't want to forget many things we have learned.
Our plan is the same as last year, to train our English skills during next weeks on the four main flanks: reading, listening, speaking and writing.
READING. EOI Library has several interesting books for every level. Last summer I achieved to read four and that was a good point to refresh vocabulary and grammar in a pleasant way. Check EOI website so as to know the availability and schedule. As well, you can find English-written books in other libraries —although I prefer much more the ones from EOI, as they are newer and cooler—. Finally, you can also read the posts that will be published here ;)
LISTENING. Recently, I’ve bought a Netflix account: it has got plenty of TV series and films and most of them can be set up in English. I also like watching documentaries, due to its slow tempos – much more easy to follow than the series. I discovered the documentaries from Lucy Worsley (an English historian and presenter): I like her pronunciation and her diction, and also the issues she speaks about. Finally, I want to listen to more music and be aware of the lyrics; this year our classmate Gonzalo has taught us that there are many interesting structures and vocabulary behind the songs.
SPEAKING. As I said last year, it's the hardest skill to train, because you need to find English-speaking people, and that is not always easy. Just take all opportunities you can to speak: talk to some tourist or foreign people living in your city or maybe when you are abroad on a trip; I have been going to the Marcel·lí Domingo, where every Monday at 19.00 h there is a conversation group managed by two young American boys; I have also been going to the Forn de la Canonja (every Wednesday, 19.00 h) with two guys from Bristol (England). Other places you can go to do conversation with natives: Tradicionàrius, Botànic, Roquetes public library, etc. And of course, you can meet with people from your class to have a drink and speak in English.
WRITING. During this year, we have written some post here and some compositions from class too. There is a list of the different kind of composition on the right side of the blog. Actually, writing was the main reason of the blog, because it's a good way to revise and maintain our vocabulary and grammar structures. Unfortunately, there will be no correction from a capable teacher, but the mere fact of writing will help us to revise and remember important things in our English career. So I encourage you to write here whatever you want. Just choose a subject you like and write a few lines.
We have ahead almost four months without any English, therefore we must keep our English afloat. Welcome and let's go… again!
If you want to publish your compositions here, please let me know it and I will enable you as an editor. You can post a comment or send us an e-mail to inpresentperfect@tortosins.com.
