Verb Patterns: 'Try to do' or 'try doing'?

This video might be useful to understand the grammar topic we're currently dealing with.
What do you think?

I hope it helps! 

The Selfish Giant

This week we will read and analyse "The Selfish Giant" By Oscar Wilde.

You may download a PDF file of the short story HERE

Please, PRINT or COPY exercises a, b and c to your ring-binders. Hand in before April 21st.

The Author:

Click on the picture below to learn more about Oscar Wilde.

a. Now, answer the following questions:

1. Who was Oscar Wilde? In which century was he born?

2. What was Oscar´s birth name?

3. When and where was he born?

4. When and why did he leave Ireland?

5. What is he best known for?

6. Why was he imprisoned?

7. When and where did he die?

Before you read: 

In fairy or folk tales what is usually the role of the giant? Can you think of any unusual giants? Give examples and story titles.

After you read:

b. Vocabulary: What do these words mean?

Hail:

Rattle:

Linnet:

Melt:

Fling:

Long for:

Feeble:

Gruff:

Wrap:

Slates:

c. Answer the following questions:

1. What features of the Giant’s garden are mentioned?
2. What joke does Wilde make in the third paragraph? What does this tell us about the Giant?
3. What two points show that the Giant was a selfish one?
4. When Spring comes after the Giant’s return to his garden, how have the features mentioned in Question 2 changed?
5. What four “people” inhabit the Giant’s closed garden during the Spring?
6. How was Spring brought back into the Giant’s garden?
7. Why does one corner of the Giant’s garden remain wintry?
8. How is the Giant converted from selfishness to love?
9. When the little boy that the Giant helped into the tree returns, what is his symbolic meaning?

d. Discuss the following questions in class: 

1. The little child’s hands and feet had marks of nails. What does the child remind you of? Give a reason for your answer.

2. Talk about some of the themes in The Selfish Giant:

Change & Growth  /  Religion - Christian story, Christ child, life after death  /  Forgiveness - redemption, love, trust  /  Kindness - friendship, sharing  /  Loneliness - selfishness, ownership  /  Misunderstanding - fear, hatred, anger

3. The Fairy Tale Genre: This short story contains many elements that we usually find in fairy tales. Can you give examples?

4. Fairy tales often have a moral. What is the moral in this story?

5. Are fairy tales just for children?

Extra:

e.  Watch the animated version of this story:

I hope you enjoy this lesson!!! :)

The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov

About the author: Isaac Asimov

Who was Isaac Asimov? Click on the picture below to find out more about this incredible author.

Before you read:

This story was written in 1951, many years before computers became common teaching instruments in schools and at home. As you read, think about how the writer feels about these “mechanical teachers.” Have any of his predictions come true? How do you predict computers will be used in classrooms by the year 2155?

The Story: 

Listen to Caden Vaughn Clegg reading 'The Fun They Had' HERE.

After you read:

Please PRINT or COPY exercises a, b and c to your ring-binders.

a. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.

1. How old are Margie and Tommy?

2. What did Margie write in her diary?

3. Had Margie ever seen a book before?

4. What things about the book did she find strange?

5. What do you think a telebook is?

6. Where was Margie’s school? Did she have any classmates?

7. What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn?

b. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).

1. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have?

2. Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector?

3. What did he do?

4. What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher?

7. Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why?

7. How does Tommy describe the old kind of school?

8. How does he describe the old kind of teachers?

c. Answer each of these questions in one or two paragraphs (50 - 100 words).

1. What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story?

2. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?

d. Opinion - Class discussion:

What do you most like about school? What would you change about it if you could?

How do you feel about a system of education where students learn only by computer? What do you think the advantages and disadvantages of such a system would be for students?

e. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!!! 

Choose ONE of the following assignments. You should hand it in before April 7th.

• Create a Time Capsule. The characters in “The Fun They Had” are curious about what school is like for kids today. In small groups (2 or 3 students), write descriptions that present accurate pictures of a day in the life of your classroom for a time capsule designed to be opened in 150 years. Suggest materials for the time capsule, such as books, homework assignments, or photos of your teacher and classmates.

• Write a letter to the author. (100 -150 words). Write a letter to Isaac Asimov, expressing your views on the short story. Explain your feelings towards the main character and provide your opinion about the central theme of the story.

I'M BACK!!!

Wow! It's been a long time since my last post! Shame on me!!! ha, ha!

Well...to all of you who are here for the first time: WELCOME!!!

Are you ready to start???


Ms. Aldana

Revision exercises - Answer Key

Hi everybody!

I'm sorry for the delay. Here is the answer key to the inversion exercise:

1.      Hardly had I begun to apologize when the door closed.

2.      Seldom have I heard such a talented singer.

3.      Had John known that she liked curry, he would have brought her to an Indian restaurant.

4.      Rarely did the artist pay attention to his agent's advice.

5.      Never had he felt so depressed.

6.      In no way can the shop be held responsible for customers' lost property.

7.      No sooner had the couple arrived than the priest started the ceremony.

8.      Only when he saw his wife's face did Tom realize the meaning of the comment.

9.      Never at any time had she said (that) she was allergic to cats.

10.     Under no circumstances can the restaurant accept animals.

Well, good luck!!!!

Revision: Determiners

Here are some useful links to revise before the classwork:

• Exercise on Both, Either, Neither, Nor and So
• Some & Any
• Little or Few?

Gerunds and Infinitives

At the bottom of this webpage you'll find some useful exercises:

Gerunds and infinitives

Ms D

Verb Patterns - Answer key

Hi! This is the answer key for the photocopy that we were working on when the bell rang:

A-

1. to speak
2. seeing
3. go out
4. to have
5. not stay
6. working
7. to wear
8. live
9. laughing
10. to finish
11. seeing
12. not to tell
13. work
14. not seeing
15. to help
16. waiting
17. to park
18. speaking
19. getting up / to get up
20. not come
21. spending
22. to give

B - 

1. to buy
2. not to be
3. changing
4. meeting
5. arriving
6. to revise
7. to tell
8. turning

Good luck!!! And don't forget to study 'More Than Just The Disease' for Tuesday! (2/7)

Ms D

More Practice!

Well, I thought you may find these exercises useful:

• This one is a test on Past Tenses:

James Cook - Simple Past, Past Progressive, Past Perfect

• And these three below are related to the topic of inversion:

Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3

Answer key - Inversion copies

Well, just this boring post...I hope you are revising for the test! ;)

1. example
2. sooner did I get
3. too late did we notice
4. did I realise
5. I you, I would
6. did I notice
7. did they know
8. can I meet him
9. could we get
10. only is she a brilliant
11. should you open
12. I realized how late
13. else have I eaten
14. no circumstances must you open
15. before had I seen
16. did I remember
17. did we have

My First Post!

Hello everybody!

Welcome to our classroom blog!

I'm really excited about this new challenge - I hope you like it!
We will use this classroom blog to study English, explore useful resources on the Web and exchange opinions and ideas with each other.
I will also post useful links to online dictionaries, grammar sites, interesting videos and many other cool things to improve your skills!

See you all in class!

Ms. D