Hello everybody,

Even if the pandemic is still around, meaning second Christmas pandemic, second Thanksgiving pandemic, and so on in different countries, with people being told to wear masks, to gather outdoors whenever possible, to go for vaccines and booster shots, Black Friday, which to some extent started to be announced last week Monday through Friday, is about to take place in a couple of days.

Here is the link to language  activities  focused on three coloured weekdays:

https://maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com/search?q=black+friday

I hope you find it useful.

mariaisabelmiroperez

November25th, 2021

THE HAMMAM REPORT. KEY

THE 

     HAMMAM

                 REPORT. KEY

Izmir, September 23rd, 2012 

Find the 'Hammam Report' post @https://maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com/search?q=the+hammam+report

We found Alibey Hammam (1)to be a (1)pretty nice blue building, domed capped and located (2)near the subway area. A small entrance led us (3)into a hall, (4)with a white marble floor and walls (5)around it and a big dome (6)on top (7)of it.

Once inside, the four (8)of us were ushered (9)into a changing room.

Our students felt a bit shy and asked 'do we have (10)to change here?' No doubt: the four (11)of us (12)in the same changing room.

The hammam lady left the door ajar (13)as she stayed staring (14)at us (15)from the entrance. We were then given a linen towel, which we wrapped (16)around ourselves. As soon as we stepped (17)into the warm rooms, we were sharply taken our linen towels (18)off, and our bikini tops as well.

Then, ushered again (19)into different corners (20)of the warm rooms: each one (21)of us was made (22)to sit (23)on a (2)separate small marble bench, (24)near an (3)old marble basin full (25)of water.

We were all then sort (26)of baptized. First, cold water, then hot water poured (27) from our heads. (28)After being soaked (29)through, we were made (30)to lie (31)on (4)warm marble platforms: the massage was (32)about to start.

I almost fell (33)off the marble platform. It was so slippery and the massage so energetic...

The four (34)of us were scrubbed all (35)over (36)with a massage glove.

(37)As our girls said: 'this has been our second time (38)since we were babies'

(39)For me, it was the best massage ever.

Thank you very much, Aysun, (40)for everything.

Maribel

Izmir (Turkiye)

September 23rd, 2012

I hope you find this post useful.

Maribel Miró

June 22nd, 2021

*Please, remember:

All materials on maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com.es are the property of Maria Isabel Miró Pérez- the copyright holder- and are protected by international copyright laws. You may print free materials provided on maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com.es for your own personal, non-commercial use in the classroom or at home provided that you retain all the copyright information or other required logos and /or headings on the materials. You may not reprint, distribute, electronically save, modify, transmit, present before an audience, post to a website, forum, blog, etc. any materials from this blog without prior express written permission from Maria Isabel Miró Pérez.

For further information click 

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

 

 

THE HAMMAN REPORT

                

THE 

       HAMMAM

                     REPORT

Izmir, September 23rd, 2012 

          Another story based on real facts.

Whenever we returned from a European Programme meeting in a partnering country, I was supposed to write a report including all the aspects of the work developed throughout the scheduled workshops and other activities. 

However, one of the cultural experiences we went through was so impressive that I couldn't help writing a report just on it: the Hammam Report.

Without Aysun Çoban, our Turkish partner, this would not have been possible.

The exercises below are intended for CEFR B1 & B2 learners of English, that is to say, upper-intermediate & advanced students. 

1. Put the adjectives in the correct order:

    (1)building: nice/pretty/blue

    (2)bench: marble/small/separate

    (3)basin: marble/old

    (4)platform: old/marble

2. Fill in the gaps with the right word.

3. Underline the sentences in the passive voice and change them into the active voice, if possible.

Find the key @ https://maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com/search?q=the+hammam+report.+key

We found Alibey Hammam (1).......... be a (1)......................... building, domed capped and located (2).......... the subway area. A small entrance led us (3).......... a hall, (4)..........a white marble floor and walls (5).......... it and a big dome (6).......... top (7).......... it.

Once inside, the four (8).......... us were ushered (9)......... a changing room.

Our students felt a bit shy and asked 'do we have (10).......... change here?' No doubt: the four (11).......... us (12).......... the same changing room.

The hammam lady left the door ajar (13).......... she stayed staring (14).......... us (15).......... the entrance. We were then given a linen towel, which we wrapped (16).......... ourselves. As soon as we stepped (17).......... the warm rooms, we were sharply taken our linen towels (18).........., and our bikini tops as well.

Then, ushered again (19).......... different corners (20)..........the warm rooms: each one (21).......... us was made (22).......... sit (23).......... a (2).......................... bench, 

(24).......... an (3).......................... basin full (25)..........water.

We were all then sort (26).......... baptized. First, cold water, then hot water poured (27).......... our heads. (28).......... being soaked (29).........., we were made (30).......... lie (31).......... (4)......................... platforms: the massage was (32)........... to start.

I almost fell (33).......... the marble platform. It was so slippery and the massage so energetic...

The four (34).......... us were scrubbed all (35).......... (36).......... a massage glove.

(37).......... our girls said: 'this has been our second time (38).......... we were babies'.

(39)......... me, it was the best massage ever.

Thank you very much, Aysun, (40).......... everything.

Izmir (Turkiye)

September 23rd, 2012

                                     

María Isabel Miró Pérez

  June 21st, 2021                                               1

*Please, remember:

All materials on maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com.es are the property of Maria Isabel Miró Pérez- the copyright holder- and are protected by international copyright laws. You may print free materials provided on maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com.es for your own personal, non-commercial use in the classroom or at home provided that you retain all the copyright information or other required logos and /or headings on the materials. You may not reprint, distribute, electronically save, modify, transmit, present before an audience, post to a website, forum, blog, etc. any materials from this blog without prior express written permission from Maria Isabel Miró Pérez.

For further information click 

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

MY COLLEAGUE ROSA AND I. KEY

                                                    

      My Colleague 

         Rosa and I

              KEY  

                                                                                                   

                                                                                               

Stockholm. 2013

1. Choose the right option and fill in the gaps.

2. Write/ask questions about the text.

3. Describe Rosa's feelings and thoughts.

4. Find synonyms for the underlined words, phrases, and sentences.  

1. 

My colleague Rosa is one of those teachers who are keen on learning English and devote a lot of time to it.

 It all happened at Stockholm airport. Rosa and I went into the taxis' office since the ones we had booked from Valencia would not turn up.

We both came up to the counter where a blonde-haired  Swedish girl was about to have her lunch. As soon as she listened to us, she readily put her lunch tray aside and got hold of the phone: she was going to find out where our taxis were.

After a few minutes, I saw Rosa under strain. The colour fell from her face.

'What's up, Rosa?' I asked her, 'What's wrong?'

Rosa, keeping her eyes on the Swedish girl, said, 'You see, I can't get a single word of what she's saying'.

Maribel Miró

Stockholm, 2013

1.

1.            on                    to                    in

2.           for                   to                    in 

3.           on                    in                    at 

4.            in                    into                to 

5.           on                   from               for 

6.            up                   down               in  

7.            on                   up                    towards  

8.            ---                  to                     at

9.            on                  to                     of 

10.           in                   out                  on

11.           under            in                     with

12.          on                  onto                from 

13.          on                   up                    in 

14.          at                    by                   on    

4. 

. who are keen = eager to know/enthusiastic about/filled with enthusiasm/

. happened = took place/ occurred

. since = because/as/seeing that/ due to the fact that

. booked = reserved

. readily = immediately/ promptly/ at once/

. under strain = anxious/ stressed/

. the colour fell from her face = she went pale/

. what's up? = what's happening?/what's going on/

. what's wrong? = what's the matter?/

. can't get = can't understand/

  Maria Isabel Miró Pérez                                                       

June 10th, 2021   

*Please, remember:

All materials on maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com.es are the property of Maria Isabel Miró Pérez- the copyright holder- and are protected by international copyright laws. You may print free materials provided on maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com.es for your own personal, non-commercial use in the classroom or at home provided that you retain all the copyright information or other required logos and /or headings on the materials. You may not reprint, distribute, electronically save, modify, transmit, present before an audience, post to a website, forum, blog, etc. any materials from this blog without prior express written permission from Maria Isabel Miró Pérez.

For further information click 

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

                         

MY COLLEAGUE ROSA AND I.

 My Colleague Rosa                      and I 

The short story posted below is a real one:  it took place in Sweden, while on a European Programme whose partners were all ready to attend the meeting to be held in Karlstad, Sweden.

Stockholm. 2013

This cloze test is aimed at intermediate & upper-intermediate learners of English, that is to say, CEFR B1/B2, both as an online activity or a classroom one.

Once the blanks have been filled in, the students in small groups could write questions to be asked to the other groups in the class. 

 Then, a description of Rosa's feelings and thoughts could also be focused either orally or in writing.

Finally, an exercise on vocabulary: find synonyms for the underlined words, phrases, and sentences.  

Find the key to the exercises @https://maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com/

1. Choose the right option and fill in the gaps.

2. Write/ask questions about the text.

3. Describe Rosa's feelings and thoughts.

4. Find synonyms for the underlined words, phrases, and sentences.  

My colleague Rosa is one of those teachers who are keen (1) ......... learning English and devote a lot of time (2) .......... it.

 It all happened (3) .......... Stockholm airport. Rosa and I went (4) .......... the taxis' office since the ones we had booked (5) .......... Valencia would not turn (6) ...........

We both came (7) .......... to the counter where a blonde-haired  Swedish girl was about to have her lunch. As soon as she listened (8) .......... us, she readily put her lunch tray aside and got hold (9) .......... the phone: she was going to find (10) .......... where our taxis were.

After a few minutes, I saw Rosa (11) .......... strain. The colour fell (12) .......... her face.

'What's (13) .........., Rosa?' I asked her, 'What's wrong?'

Rosa, keeping her eyes (14) .......... the Swedish girl, said, 'You see, I can't get a single word of what she's saying'.

Stockholm. February 2013.

1.            on                    to                    in

2.           for                   to                    in 

3.           on                    in                    at 

4.            in                    into                to 

5.           on                   from               for 

6.            up                   down               in  

7.            on                   up                    towards  

8.            ---                  to                     at

9.            on                  to                     of 

10.           in                   out                  on

11.           under            in                     with

12.          on                  onto                from 

13.          on                   up                    in 

14.          at                    by                   on    

 

I hope you find it interesting and useful

Maribel Miró

June 7th, 2021

*Please, remember:

All materials on maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com.es are the property of Maria Isabel Miró Pérez- the copyright holder- and are protected by international copyright laws. You may print free materials provided on maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com.es for your own personal, non-commercial use in the classroom or at home provided that you retain all the copyright information or other required logos and /or headings on the materials. You may not reprint, distribute, electronically save, modify, transmit, present before an audience, post to a website, forum, blog, etc. any materials from this blog without prior express written permission from Maria Isabel Miró Pérez.

For further information click @ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

    

EASTER 2021

 

                             EASTER 2021

easter #esl #efl #onlineteaching #teachingresources #teachingenglish # #freeresources #englishteachingmaterials #englishexercises #comprehensiontexts #

  Warmest Easter greetings on Easter Sunday.

Wishing you all Easter days filled with love, health and happiness.

Click on the link below

https://maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com/search?q=easter

 and read about Easter days and dates, Easter cuisine and recipes; then go through the comprehension questions.

This activity is aimed at CEFR A1 and A2 - beginners and post-beginners-learners of English.

I hope you find it useful and your students enjoy it.

Maria Isabel Miró Pérez

April 4th, 2021

NOWRUZ 2021

 

N

    O

        W

            R

                U

                    Z 

                2021

       Fin Garden. Kashan. Iran. 

nowruz #persian culture #culture of hospitality #esl #efl # onlineteaching # teachingresourcesforthoseteachingenglish #freeexercises #freeresources #

It is with this photograph of Fin Garden that I would like to remind you of Iran and her greatest festivity -Nowruz- still being celebrated during this second week of Spring.

Fin Garden, a historical Persian garden, was built during the Safavid dynasty in the 16th century and completed in the 19th century. 

Such is the beauty of the oldest extant garden in Iran- a perfect combination of architecture, natural vegetation, trees, shrubs, and water flows - that it is no wonder the English word 'paradise' comes from the Old Persian word for 'garden' /paridaidam/.

The following comprehension exercise is aimed at CEFR A2,  B1 and B2 learners of English, that is to say, post beginners & intermediate students.

Find the key for the comprehension test below.

 Click the link and read about the festivity of Nowruz.

https://maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com/search/label/NOWRUZ

Then, say whether the following sentences are true or false.

1. Nowruz is a Persian word that means New Year. 

2. Nowruz celebrates the beginning of springtime.

3. This religious festivity is the most important one in Iran.

4. Nowruz stems from the Mesopotamian celebrations which probably started in the 1st century B.C.

5. Nowruz is mainly celebrated by Muslim inhabitants in Iran.

6. The Haft Seen table includes seven items whose name start with an 's'.

7. The Persian year starts in Nowruz.

8. Unless you lay the Haft Seen table, you won't be lucky in the coming year.

9. Nowruz tables are decorated only with an array of natural items, each one symbolizing different things. 

10. On the Nowruz table you may find an orange, garlic, vinegar among some other things. 

KEY

. FALSE: 1, 5, 9, 10.

. TRUE: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8.

I do hope you enjoy reading about this great festivity and find the activity interesting. 

Your feedback is always appreciated.

Maria Isabel Miró Pérez

April 4th, 2021

 

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2021

 

     INTERNATIONAL 

          WOMEN' S                 

               DAY

             IWD 2021 #women'sday #esl #efl #teachingresources #onlineteaching #

Today's blog post consists of the posts uploaded on Women's Day in the years 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The first one,  Isabel de Zendal & Florence Nightingale, uploaded in March 2017, was inspired by a film I happened to see on TV.

https://maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com/search/label/ISABEL%20ZENDAL%20%26%20FLORENCE%20NIGHTINGALE

Find in this post exercises & activities aimed at CEFR A1/A2, B1 & B2 learners of English. That is to say: beginners, post-beginners, intermediate, and advanced learners of English.

The second post, uploaded in March 2018 refers to five remarkable women.

Coming from different countries and different backgrounds, the five of them share a remarkable feat in their lives.

https://maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com/search?q=IWD+2018

The activities and exercises are also aimed at different level learners of English.

The third one reviews the relationship between Maths and Women through History.

https://maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com/2019/02/international-womes-day-2019.html 

Find the key to this post at

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4394959816824799645/1044644755561188459 

The fourth, and last one, posted in March 2021, focuses on Maryam Mirzakhani, the only woman ever to have received the Nobel Price in Mathematics - the Fields Price -.

https://maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com/search/label/IWD%202020%3A%20MARYAM%20MIRZAKHANI

Finally, there a Trivia Game based on Maryam Mirzakhani's post.

https://maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com/search/label/MARYAM%20MIRZAKHANI%3A%20TRIVIA%20GAME 

I hope you find it useful and your students enjoy it.                         Maribel Miró Pérez

March 5th, 2021

*Please, remember:

All materials on maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com.es are the property of Maria Isabel Miró Pérez- the copyright holder- and are protected by international copyright laws. You may print free materials provided on maribelmiroenglish.blogspot.com.es for your own personal, non-commercial use in the classroom or at home provided that you retain all the copyright information or other required logos and /or headings on the materials. You may not reprint, distribute, electronically save, modify, transmit, present before an audience, post to a website, forum, blog, etc. any materials from this blog without prior express written permission from Maria Isabel Miró Pérez.

For further information click 

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/