10 reasons to learn English in Dublin - Learn English your way - Cactus Language Training

10 reasons to learn English in Dublin - Learn English your way - Cactus Language Training

BBC LEARNING ENGLISH: Beyond the postcard

BBC LEARNING ENGLISH: Beyond the postcard

Dear readers:

Today I want to introduce yet another series from the excellent website BBC Learning English.

This series is called “Beyond the postcard" and looks at some not so well known features of some very well known places. There are text, audio and video comprehension exercises to help you practise and improve your English.
Click here and start now: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/multimedia/btp/
About Edinburgh:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/multimedia/btp/edinburgh/edinburgh_audio.shtml

Learning English with VOXY

Learning English with VOXY

Hi guys! I´m sure you´ve got a smartphone stuck to you all day long. Have you ever thought about using your iphone/ smartphone for learning English?

Voxy is an app which helps you improve your English level. It is the most popular English-learning app in Latin America and Spain now available on your Android Smartphone!
 Voxy’s fun and addictive learning platform teaches English using relevant and interesting content:
✔ Daily news stories on every topic: Business, Tech, Art and more
✔ Flashcards with audio for keyword review
✔ Helpful tips and study reminders
Learn English for FREE with new lessons available every day or upgrade to the premium version to unlock hundreds of extra content. Improve your English pronunciation, learn how to speak English fluently and communicate in the most effective way.

Click here for Voxy´s superb blog! http://voxy.com/blog
Click here for more info: http://voxy.com/

WEBINARS FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

WEBINARS FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

Did you know that good teachers are the ones who improve their teaching skills day by day in order to adapt new teaching methods? How can you do it? By means of WEBINARS.

What is a Webinar? It´s a way to attend a conference without leaving home. Using your computer and telephone, you can hear a presentation (like a conference call) and also see the presenter's slides (watching over an internet connection). You won't be able to see the presenter or the moderator, or others attending the program -- and they won't be able to see you. (A plus if you want to attend in your pajamas!)

Teaching English webinars by The British Council is an excellent tool to update your skills.

Try here: http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/webinars

 

 

YOU TUBE RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS/ STUDENTS: ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER

You Tube resources for teachers: English with Jennifer

Hi guys! A brand new academic year is about to start and I am sure you are pretty excited about it! Are you motivated to keep on learning English? I hope so!!!Today, I want to introduce you a superb site where you can improve your skills, it´s a “YOU TUBE” based resource whose name is English with Jennifer. Jennifer is a teacher of English who teaches you different lessons from beginners (lesson 1) to intermediate students. Her videos are very interesting and motivating and you will take great advantage from them!

Go to You Tube and have a go!!

I leave one of her videos as an example:

 

 

 

Learn English in Dublin/ Aprender inglés en Dublín

Learn English in Dublin

Have you ever thought about learning English in an English speaking country?

I have been an English teacher for over 10 years and my students always ask me how they could learn English in a faster way. My advice: go to an English speaking country, take a course there, live with a host family, experience life there because language is life and life is always reflected in language.

Apart from reading the local paper, watching TV and talking to native speakers, you pick up lots of vocabulary just in the street, as you go.

 Where can I go? That´s a great question as some students are put off by English forever when they go to, let´s say, England, as they expect everyone to behave as a Spaniard would do and that causes a cultural crash. If have decided to take an English course abroad, open your mind and understand that it´s a different culture and it will take you some time getting use to  new customs, food, flavours, weather, etc.

My advice: The first time you go abroad, try Ireland. Dublin is recommended for young or inexperienced travellers because it´s a small and comfortable city to live in. It is fair enough that it´s not as exciting and vibrant as London but, if your English is not that good, go for Dublin, you´ll feel comfy with Irish people, as they are very similar to Spaniards.

Do you know any good language centre where I could study English in Dublin?

If you search on the internet, you´ll find lots and lots of English schools in Dublin. I can recommend you “Linguaviva Centre” because I took a course for teachers last July there and I can say it´s a cool school with very professional teachers and great facilities.

For more info click here: http://www.linguaviva.com/

If you really want to take a course there, email me and I´ll try to get you a discount ;) : ineedb1@hotmail.com

Spanish version

He sido profesora de inglés durante 10 años y mis alumnos siempre me preguntan qué pueden hacer para mejorar su inglés. Buena pregunta, buena porque veo que están motivados y quieren mejorar. ¿Qué hacer, pues? Si llevas años estudiando y tienes una base, vete una temporada a un país de habla inglesa. Supone gastar dinero pero lo que logras allí en 6 meses, en España te costaría 2 años o más. Residir en el país y aprender la lengua sólo tiene ventajas porque las clases son 24/7, todo lo que entre por tus ojos, el paseíto que des recorriendo las calles de la ciudad que elijas, te proporcionará un input de vocabulario, listening, speaking, todo en uno.

¿Dónde ir? Si eres primerizo y tu inglés no es muy bueno, recuerda que tu inglés (de España) quedará en nada cuando salgas fuera, mi consejo es Irlanda. A mi me encanta Inglaterra pero lo desaconsejo para un novato en inglés ya que los ingleses son más estrictos en todo y el choque cultural es mayor que si te vas a Irlanda. Los irlandeses son bastante parecidos a los españoles, les gusta hablar y eso hará que mejores tu inglés. En Dublín te sentirás cómodo ya que es una ciudad no muy grande y bastante bien comunicada, segura y barata….no, barato no es pero por lo menos tienen el euro!!

¿Qué escuela de inglés elegir?

En Dublín las hay en cada esquina, casi tantas como pubs pero yo os puedo hablar de la que conozco ya que hice un curso para profes ahí este verano. Se llama Linguaviva Centre, está bien ubicada, las familias que trabajan con ellos acogiendo alumnos son realmente encantadoras, los profesores profesionales y con muchísima experiencia y el “staff” (administrativas, gerente, etc) muy acogedores y majos. Además podéis conocer gente porque tienen alumnos internacionales y hacen actividades sociales para que se conozca la gente.

Si necesitáis más info, escribidme a ineedb1@hotmail.com

 

 

RESOURCES FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS I

Hi dear colleagues!

I have decided to start a section where you can find resources for your English lessons. As you may know, the net has lots of resources, the problem is always the time we all spend researching, time goes fast when you are having fun, they say…

To make your task a bit easier, I´ll post here some websites I find superb!

Hope you find the first one useful!!

·       http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/teaching-resources

On these pages you'll find free teaching resources to use in your English lessons. There are lesson plans and activities, complete with worksheets to download, for primary, secondary and adult teachers. You can find out more about our different types of English teaching resources below.

Take the quiz and find out the kind of teacher you are, it´s fun!

http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/what-kind-teacher-are-you

 I´ll post more stuff soon so.... don´t miss it!

Welcome to London

Hi everyone!

I lived in London for 2 years and it´s a city I really love, a city that inspires me in many ways and a city you can never get bored with. I try to return every year. With friends or students, London is always a good choice….

BBC Learning English has an intermediate English language course skills.

It follows two characters, John and Fiona, through a series of situations as they arrive and settle down in the city.

So, if you are coming to visit, or live, in London or you want to find out more about what the city has to offer - then this course may be for you.

Enjoy it!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/multimedia/london/

Irish History, culture and literature course pre-view

BECAS GRUNDTVIG/COMENIUS PARA PROFESORES/ GRUNDTVIG AND COMENIUS GRANTS FOR TEACHERS

Grundtvig/Comenius Grants for teachers

Hi dear readers!
Sorry I haven´t posted anything recently because I have been on holidays. I took a course on Irish history, culture and literature in Dublin in July; I applied for a Grundtvig grant and got it!

 I strongly recommend teachers to apply for Grundtvig/ Comenius grants in order to refresh contents as well as to meet teachers from other countries and share teaching experiences and other ways of doing things across Europe.

Click here for more info and bear in mind that 2013 is the last year to apply! http://www.oapee.es/oapee/inicio/pap/comenius/catalogo-de-cursos.html

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Spanish version

Este verano he dedicado 2 semanas a reciclarme profesionalmente y a aprender un poco más sobre Historia irlandesa, literatura y cultura. Conseguí una beca de formación del profesorado (Grundtvig) con fondos europeos y aproveché la ocasión para, de paso, hablar inglés con nativos.

Las becas Comenius (para secundaria) y Grundtvig (para adultos) son un gran medio para ponerte en contacto con profesores europeos y darte cuenta de que en España estamos a años luz! Fue contarles el sistema de oposición caduco y rancio que tenemos, las interinidades sin cobrar verano, los 40 alumnos por clase y demás despropósitos y, dicho coloquialmente, flipan…

¿Por qué deberías pedirte una  beca Grundtvig/ Comenius?

·       Porque puedes hacerlo aunque estés desempleado o trabajando en una academia, no hace falta ser funcionario de carrera ni interino.

·       Te dan una ayuda que cubre un 80% de los gastos totales: curso, estancia en “host family”, transporte, vuelo, comida, etc.

·       Puedes irte durante todo el año, un mínimo de 5 días y una máximo de 6 semanas.

·       Tienes algo más que incluir en tu CV, conoces gente, pueden surgir ofertas laborales, es una experiencia nueva, hablas otro idioma….

·       ¿Cuándo solicitarla? Hasta el  17 de septiembre de 2012 si te quieres ir a principios del 2013.

·       Pincha abajo, descárgate el documento de solicitud, búscate un curso del catálogo de cursos, contacta con la institución que lo realiza y pre-inscríbete (es gratis).Rellena la solicitud con los datos del curso y tus motivaciones para realizar dicho curso. Puede parecer bastante farragoso pero  si estás motivado y eres sincero,  no tendrás problemas. Envía el documento online cuando estés listo y... voilá!

·       Imprime 2 copias de la solicitud, manda una a tu agencia autonómica (según tu Comunidad Autónoma) y otra a tu agencia nacional (Madrid) junto a los documentos que te piden (está todo en el link) y….a esperar!

http://www.oapee.es/oapee/inicio/pap/comenius/formacion-continua.html

Si tienes alguna duda, escríbeme un comment  y te la resolveré!Good luck!