Eat Local

 

 

Why eat local?, by Michael Pollan.

For more information on the topic: Nourish Life

 

Mixed conditionals

How can we express that a past condition has a result in the present, or that a present condition could have had a (hypothetical) past result? With the mixed conditionals.

There are more possible 'combinations'; for example, with future situations, but we will focus on the ones mentioned above:

a) Past condition with a result in the present:
If I had bought that house, I would be living in it now.

b) Present condition with a past result:
If she were Spanish, she could have become the Spanish Prime Minister.

Why gender-based marketing is bad for business

Gaby Barrios on TED

 

An interesting article from The Guardian, talking about all the things that the teachers are looking forward to telling the parents... but can you imagine if they did?

Click below:

10 things teachers want to say to parents, but can't

 

 

Slow Food in Oklahoma

Buy Locally

Some videos for inspiration on Unit 1, National & Local Produce and Products. Here you can find some advantages and disadvantages:

How to talk about advantages and disadvantages.

The more, the merrier... The..., the... COMPARATIVES

Only comparatives:
The poorer he is, the wiser he seems. (The + comparative adjective + subject + verb, the + comparative adjective + subject + verb)



With "more" and "less":
The more you buy, the more you waste.
The less I smoke, the healthier I am.
The more I read, the more I like it.
The less I go out, the more I save. 

Attention:
The less fat they eat, the slimmer they get.
The fewer pupils I have, the happier I feel.

Less → with uncountables
Fewer → with countables

You can omit the verbs, too (especially in answers):


- How do they prefer their soup?
- The hotter, the better


- What time could I start?
- The sooner, the better


The more expensive the restaurant is,  the better the service is
= The more expensive the restaurant, the better the service

Clicking here you can test your abilities using this structure.

National & Local Produce & Products - NGO - Strolling of the Heifers

Strolling of the Heifers: About us

10 Reasons Why You Should Eat Local (article)

 

 

National & Local Produce & Products - How urban agriculture is transforming Detroit

Here's a video for inspiration. Devita Davison talks about the agricultural revolution in Detroit, the citizens' commitment and all the benefits the get from urban agriculture. Watch it with subtitles to understand it better. 😉

 

Ads for positive purposes : TED TALK

 

“In my lifetime, I have never lived one day of peace in my country,” says Jose Miguel Sokoloff. This ad executive from Colombia saw a chance to help guerrilla fighters choose to come home — with smart marketing. He shares how some creative, welcoming messages have helped thousands of guerrillas decide to put down their weapons — and the key insights behind these surprising tactics. 

This interesting TED Talk shows us an extraordinarily positive use of publicity and its techniques: demobilizing guerrilas in Colombia. Advertising as a tool of change.

Click on 'subtitles' and enjoy this really touching video.

 Jose Miguel Sokoloff: How Christmas lights helped guerrillas put down their guns

Another - Other - Others

Another - Other - Others

My pupils often ask me about these three words. It seems to be a tricky topic. Let's see if we can understand it! Take it easy, read carefully and do the exercise at the end. 

ANOTHER is a determiner or a pronoun.



Determiner:

It goes with countable SINGULAR nouns.

It means 'one more'.

Examples:
Can I have another cup of coffee?
I want another glass of water.
Would you like another piece of cake?

It also can mean 'alternative' or 'different'.

I would prefer another colour. (I would prefer a different colour)

Pronoun:
It takes the place of a SINGULAR noun, but with the same meaning: 'one more' or 'different'.

Examples:
Can I have another? (Can I have one more?)
I want another. (I want one more.)
Would you like another? (Would you like one more?)
I would prefer another.

OTHER is a determiner or a pronoun.
It can go with SINGULAR and PLURAL nouns.

It means 'alternative', 'different'.

Examples:
I don't want this one. I want the other one.
He can do other things.
Are there any other alternatives?
No other man can do what he does.

Pronoun:
It takes the place of a SINGULAR noun, but with the same meaning: ‘alternative’ or ‘different’. Usually with ‘the’.

Examples:
I don’t want this one. I want the other.
No other can do what he does.

OTHERS is a pronoun.

It takes the place of a PLURAL noun, but with the same meaning: ‘alternative’ or ‘different’.

Examples:
He can do others. (He can do other things)
Are there any others? (Are there any other alternatives?)

Exercise: fill in the blanks with another, other or others.

1. I want _______________ cup of coffee.

2. Would you like ________________ piece of cake?

3. I think we should make __________________ plans just in case.

4. We need some chairs. I’ll take these ones and you can take the ___________.

5. Do you have ______________ types available?
6. A: Have ____________________ sausage.
    B: No, thanks. I’ve had enough.

7. You take one bag and I’ll take the ________________ one.

8. I really hope there are ___________________ alternatives.

9. This bike might be slow but ______________ are much faster.

10. We really need to buy ________________ car, so that we can have two cars at home.

11. I’m going to sell this car and get ______________ one.

12. She had an umbrella in one hand and her purse in the _________________.

13. This is just __________________ day in my life.

14. How many _________________ people are coming?

15. Would you like this one or the _______________ one?

16. I’d like __________________ vacation right now. It’s not enough!

17. They’re not for you., they’re for ___________________.

18. This is my sister Mary. I have _______________ three sisters too.

19. I don’t want these shoes, I want the _________________ because they go with my dress.

20. Are there any __________________ questions?

KEY: another/ another/ other/ others/ other/ another/ other/ other/ others/ another/ other/ other/ another/ other/ other/ another/ others (or 'another' or 'the other')/ other/ others/ other

Two funny dicitionaries

Looking for a simple and easy definitions dictionary, with a pronunciation tool? This one can be of great help. Click on the link below:

Vocabulary. com


Sometimes word meanings and definitions are a bit hard to find. Especially when we are talking about slang, street language, constantly changing. Here you have a good help to make you understand and learn those words that are not in a standard dictionary:

Urban Dictionary

Confusing Words and Common Mistakes/ Palabras que nos pueden llevar a confusión y los errores más frecuentes

Confusing Words


Common Mistakes


Advice and Advise

'What' or 'That' - Grammar explanation and exercises

Grammar explanation (in Spanish) Easily explained and very useful.

Exercises.

Jamie Oliver's talk at TED

A wonderful talk about food and health problems in USA and the rest of the world. How we should change our food habits and teach our children how to eat better.

Remember to use the subtitles tool (on the screen's bottom) or just print the transcript and read it while you are listening.

Jamie Oliver: Teach every child about food.

Can I start a sentence with a conjunction?

Grammar myths #2: please miss, can I start a sentence with a conjunction?

Computers- Useful vocabulary

Links to improve our pronunciation and  vocabulary:

- Pictures Quiz

- Audio and translation into Spanish

Cleft Sentences- Preparatory 'It'- Exercises

- Exercise 1

- Exercise 2

- Exercise 3

- Exercise 4

Recommended audio-reader : Environmental Friendliness

Click on the link below. Outstanding vocabulary related to 'Environment' and two reading speeds to choose. Enjoy!!


Environmental Friendliness