Reading: Getting on well.

 Read the text titled: "Getting on well"  and do activities 5, 6, 7 and 8a. 

 Deadline: November 10th. 

 Click here to download the document. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homework due on November 5th

 After talking about phrasal verbs, I told you to do exercises 1 and 2 on page 168.

Irregular pronunciation of -ed.

Irregular Pronunciation of -ed:

Normally, the -ed ending in English has three possible pronunciations depending on the final sound of the root word:
    1.    /t/ – after voiceless sounds (e.g. kissed, laughed, worked).
    2.    /d/ – after voiced sounds (e.g. played, cleaned, begged).
    3.    /ɪd/ or /əd/ – after t or d sounds (e.g. wanted, ended).

However, there are exceptions where -ed is pronounced /ɪd/ (or /əd/) even though the base word does not end in /t/ or /d/.

This happens mostly with adjectives (and sometimes with nouns) that are no longer felt as past participles of verbs, but as independent words.

In these cases, the -ed is part of the word’s root pronunciation, not a regular past tense ending.

Examples of Adjectives with Irregular “-ed” Pronunciation (/ɪd/)

Word    Pronunciation    Notes
wicked    /ˈwɪkɪd/    Originally “wicked” = “evil” from wick + -ed (no longer a verb).
naked    /ˈneɪkɪd/    From Old English nacod; not a participle.
crooked    /ˈkrʊkɪd/    From crook; now an adjective meaning “bent” or “dishonest”.
rugged    /ˈrʌɡɪd/    From rug; adjective meaning “rough” or “strong”.
learnèd    /ˈlɜːnɪd/ (formal)    Used as an adjective meaning “scholarly”.
blessed    /ˈblɛsɪd/ (when adjective)    Used in religious or poetic language.
beloved    /bɪˈlʌvɪd/ (adjective)    Means “dearly loved”.
dogged    /ˈdɒɡɪd/    Means “persistent”.
ragged    /ˈræɡɪd/    Means “torn”, “shabby”.
wicked    /ˈwɪkɪd/    Means “evil”, “cool” (slang).



Why This Happens

Historically, these words come from Old or Middle English forms in which -ed was a syllabic suffix used to form adjectives, not just past participles.
Over time, English simplified -ed endings in most cases, but in some fossilized adjectives, the older /ɪd/ pronunciation survived.

In other words:

The “extra syllable” stayed because the word became lexicalized as an adjective, not a verb form.

Contrast with Regular Past Participles

Regular Verb    Past Form    Pronunciation    Example
work → worked    /t/    “He worked late.”    
play → played    /d/    “She played well.”    
want → wanted    /ɪd/    “They wanted help.”    
wick → wicked    /ɪd/    Not a verb form! “He’s a wicked person.”    


Summary Rule

If the word with -ed is an adjective that doesn’t clearly come from a verb or is a set lexical item, you often pronounce the ending /ɪd/ even when the normal rule wouldn’t require it.

These words are exceptions because of historical pronunciation and lexicalization, not grammar.

Personalisty test.

 Click here to download the personality test that we're doing today in class. 

 

 

 

 

How to write a web post.

 

1.     Structure

 

a)     Introduction – Introduce the topic briefly.

b)     Body – Express your opinion and give reasons or examples.

c)      Conclusion – Summarize your point or invite readers to comment.

 

2.     Language & Style

• Use a semi-formal tone (friendly but respectful).
• Write clearly and concisely.
• Use connectors to organise your ideas.

3.     Useful phrases:

• Giving opinion: I believe that… / In my view… / From my perspective…
• Adding ideas: Moreover… / In addition… / Besides that…
• Contrasting: However… / On the other hand…
• Inviting response: What do you think? / Do you agree?

4.     Example Web Post

Is Online Learning the Future?

Online learning has transformed the way we study. In my view, it offers flexibility and accessibility for everyone. Moreover, it allows students to combine work and education more easily. However, I think we still need real interaction to stay motivated. What do you think?

(98 words)

 

5.     Writing Tips

✅   Plan your ideas before writing.
✅   Check grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
✅   Keep your sentences clear and connected.
✅   Respect the word limit (90–100 words).

Written interaction: a web post.

This is the final task after Unit 1: Cities. Follow thte instructions attached to the document below. 

 

Click here to download the document with the instructions.  

Homework due on October 27th.

 

 

 

 

Common Mistakes Spanish Learners Make

 

Here are the typical linguistic issues Spanish-speaking learners have when writing at the upper-intermediate level:

Grammar

·         Wrong article use: saying the staff was very friendly → correct (no article before staff as a group noun).

·         Confusing prepositions: depend of ❌ → depend on ✅

·         Literal translations: I am agree ❌ → I agree ✅

·         Tense confusion: mixing past simple and present perfect incorrectly (I have stayed last summer ❌ → I stayed last summer ✅).

·         Word order errors: very disappointed I was ❌ → I was very disappointed ✅.

Vocabulary and Register

·         Overuse of very good / very bad → instead: excellent / disappointing / unsatisfactory.

·         False friends: sympathetic staff ❌ (means “compasivo”), should be friendly / helpful staff.

·         Overly formal or informal tone: reviews should sound natural, not academic.

Discourse and Cohesion

·         Overuse of and / but / so: replace with however, moreover, although, in contrast.

·         Missing connectors between ideas or paragraphs.

·         Forgetting to include a final opinion or recommendation, essential for task completion.

 

 

How to Perform Well on This Task

 

To score above 6.5/10 on the B2 written production rubric, you must show clear task fulfilment, appropriate organization, accurate language use, and a range of vocabulary and grammar. Here’s how:

Task Fulfilment

·         Address all points in the prompt: mention the romance package, the luxury suite, and that the experience was not as advertised.

·         Include specific examples of what went wrong (e.g. no rose petals, poor service, or noisy room).

·         End with a clear opinion or recommendation, as expected in an online review.

Organization and Cohesion

·         Use clear paragraphs:

1.      Introduction (when and why you stayed)

2.      Description of what was expected vs. what happened

3.      Evaluation and recommendation

·         Use linking expressions: Firstly, however, unfortunately, in addition, on the whole, I would not recommend…

·         Maintain a semi-formal tone: polite but natural, as for an online review.

Range and Accuracy

·         Show a range of B2-level vocabulary related to travel, hotels, and experiences (facilities, amenities, service, disappointing, value for money, advertised, expectations).

·         Use past tenses correctly (especially past simple and past perfect).

·         Include modals and connectors (should have, could, even though, despite).

·         Avoid basic errors in articles, prepositions, and word order.

 

Homework due on October 22nd

Do activity n. 1 on page 12 in your textbook. This is a vocubulary activity about Urban planning and you will need to know this vocabulary before doing the listening and speaking activities that you'll be assigned next Wednesday. 

Identifying mistakes in a writing task.

 

Model containing mistakes (≈4.63/10)

Title: Bad experience in Conrad Hotel (14 mistakes)

I book the romance package the last summer for me and my girlfriend. We was very excited because on the website it say there will be red petals, wine and chocolates, but when we arrived to the hotel, none of this was in the room. The suite was very small and we don’t have view to the Hudson River.

Also the air conditioning no work and the staff wasn’t very friendly, they don’t help us. For the breakfast, there was a lot of people and we must wait thirty minutes. The experience was very bad and for me it’s not a five stars hotel. It was a dissapointed experience and that’s why I don’t recommend this place for couples.

(≈120 words)