Summer is here and it's time to lie on the beach, soak up the sun, and read a good book!
If you would like to take advantage of your summer holidays to keep expanding your English knowledge, I recommend you check out these adapted books for learners of English.
The level you studied this semester is B.1 in the European Common Framework. It corresponds to an intermediate, the Cambridge English exam PET (the First Certificate is B.2 level).
In the following links you'll find book titles for all levels. You can order these books online, or you can find them in your local bookshop or even your library!
Macmillan Graded Readers
In this website, your level corresponds approximately to Intermediate. Macmillan offers over 80 different titles for Intermediate level!
Penguin Readers
If you have a look at the levels they offer, you'll see that you're approximately a Level 4 (the blue), which corresponds to B.1 level in the Common Framework.
Oxford Bookworms Library
Here you have six different levels (from Starters to Stage 5).
Saber Inglés
Here you have a list of free books in English that you can download and read from your computer or your ebook reader. These books haven't been adapted for students, so they're in the original format.
Amazon
You can also find many adapted books on Amazon (at lower prices, too!) Here's a link to Amazon Spain with the search for "Macmillan Graded Readers." Be sure to check that the level you order is the correct one! Here's another link for the search "Heinemann Graded Readers."
Well, I'm sure that with all the books these websites offer you'll find something interesting to read this summer! In my case, I'm reading A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin... I'm almost halfway through but it's taking me a very long time because I'm not enjoying the story very much so I keep leaving it and leaving it... Oh, well! I'm sure you'll have more luck than me with the books you choose!
Here are some extra links for Unit 4 - The Right Job
Vocabulary
Jobs - A fabulous list with useful vocabulary and expressions.
Jobs and occupations - Just click on the drop-down menu above the list to see what activities you can do with this vocabulary.
Jobs: vocabulary and expressions - This vocabulary list comes with seven exercises, just click on the links at the top of the page.
Listening
Bad Jobs - Monica and Todd talk about some of the bad jobs they have had before. Script available.
Job centre game - Read the instructions and enjoy! Script available.
Reading
Applying for a Job (matching exercise) - Which position is best for the people in the exercise?
Basic Cover Letter Example Template - Have a look at the elements a basic cover letter should include.
Grammar
Past Simple - (also called Simple Past) General information. You also have tests at the bottom of the page.
Past Continuous - (also called Past Progressive) More information and tests at the bottom of the page.
Past Simple vs Past Continuous - Great information and exercises.
Functions
Basic Job Interview Questions - Here you will find examples of typical job interview questions, as well as sample answers (just click on the links).
Conversation Questions: Job Interview - Many examples.
Time Markers - Short exercise to practice expressions such as "immediately", "before" and "now".
Hello everybody! Right now, we are all very busy working on Unit 1, The Food Experience. To help you, here are some extra links with grammar and vocabulary related to what we are seeing in the unit.
Don't forget that at the top of this blog you have a section called English Resources, with more links to grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary and writing.
Part 1 (Part 1 of the unit prepares you for your writing task)
Food Vocabulary
Food Vocabulary
This website offers tons of information on food vocabulary. You can click through different topics and you'll find many exercises at the bottom. What I especially like about this website is that it offers a list of uncountable nouns with words used to make them countable: a bunch of asparagus, an ear of corn, a cube of sugar... Don't forget to check out the exercises at the bottom!
Vocabulary Word Groups
This website offers lists of words groups related to vocabulary. We have groups for the condition of the food (raw, ripe, rotten...), verbs (bake, stew...), adjectives to describe taste (salty, bitter...), and much more.
Food Picture Vocabulary
This website is very visual and easy to use. It shows you pictures of different food items, along with the names. You can then choose to do the exercises to practice the vocabulary.
Grammar: Present Simple and Present Continuous
Simple Present - Present Progressive
Here you will find explanations on these two tenses. Don't forget to do the extra exercises at the bottom!
Present Simple or Continuous
Another website with concise information and exercises.
Present Tense Tests
Here you have some grammar explanations and several tests to practice using present simple and present continuous.
Expressing Likes and Dislikes
The Present Simple - Likes and Dislikes
This is a very simple explanation, to review the use of the verb "like" in the present.
Situations: Expressing Likes and Dislikes
Here you have some examples of how to make sentences to express what you like and what you don't.
Talking About Likes and Dislikes
This website offers a list of different verbs you can use to express your preferences (like, love, adore, hate, detest, can't stand...). Don't forget to read the sample conversation at the bottom!
Part 2 (Part 2 of the unit prepares you for your LANGblog task)
Suggestions
BBC English - Making Suggestions
This wonderful lesson from the BBC contains an audio recording so you can listen as you read. You can download the scripts in PDf format, as well as the audio in mp3. There is also a listening exercise at the bottom.
Making Suggestions
Here you have some phrases you can use when making suggestions. This website also offers links to different related topics such a disagreeing and making complaints. All of these links are highly recommended.
Accepting and Rejecting Suggestions
This is a forum where teachers have shared their ideas for accepting and rejecting suggestions. You can find several examples here (a short list and an example conversation).
Making a Reservation
Listening Quiz - Making a Dinner Reservation
Click on the speaker button to hear the conversation and choose the correct answers.
Listening + Text - Making a Dinner Reservation
This websites offers three conversations.
Podcast - Making a Restaurant Reservation
One more listening activity: here you can listen to the conversation and read along. All the important vocabulary and phrases are marked in bold.
Ordering Food
Ordering Food in a Restaurant
This page gives you a sample menu so you can see the prices, then you can read the conversation between the waiter and the guest. Don't forget to try to exercise at the bottom!
Making a Complaint
BBC English - Complaints
This is like the other BBC English page: you can listen to the audio recording as you read.
Making Complaints
This website gives you a list of phrases you can use. It also gives you several links to related topics such as disagreeing, asking for information or making suggestions.
If you have any other websites you would like to share, send a comment!
