Aprender ingles with Reza and Craig
English lessons to improve your grammar, vocabulary and listening skills. We'll help you take your English to the next level! Lecciones para aprender y mejorar tú inglés.

Puedes ver las trascripciones y las notas de los episodios de nuestros podcasts en inglespodcast.com   

You can see the show notes and transcriptions of all our podcasts at inglespodcast.com    

Direct download: AIRC39_FinalChristmasCut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:30pm CEST

You can answer comprehension questions about this interview at inglespodcast.com

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Direct download: MansionInterviews_Aisla.mp3
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Direct download: AIRC38_FinalCut.mp3
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Direct download: Gill_Interview_PFCE6.mp3
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Puedes ver las trascripciones y las notas de los episodios de nuestros podcasts en inglespodcast.com   

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Direct download: AIRC37_FinalCut.mp3
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Puedes ver las trascripciones y las notas de los episodios de nuestros podcasts en inglespodcast.com   

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Direct download: PassFCE_5_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:35am CEST

You can answer comprehension questions about this interview at inglespodcast.com

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Direct download: MansionInterviews_Ella.mp3
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Aprende inglés gratis con La Mansión del Inglés

Direct download: PassFCE_4_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:35am CEST

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Direct download: AIRC_36_FinalCut.mp3
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Direct download: PassFCE_3_final_cut.mp3
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Direct download: AIRC_35_FinalCut.mp3
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Direct download: PassFCE_2_final_cut.mp3
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Direct download: 2014_Oct_DavidPalencia_Interview_2.mp3
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Direct download: PassFCE_1_final_cut.mp3
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Direct download: AIRC_34_Final_Cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:02pm CEST

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Direct download: AIRC_33_Final_Cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:25am CEST

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Direct download: AIRC_32.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:29pm CEST

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Direct download: AIRC_31_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:56pm CEST

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Direct download: AIRC_30_final_cut.mp3
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Direct download: AIRC_29_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:53pm CEST

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Direct download: AIRC_28_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:24am CEST

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Direct download: AIRC_27_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:43pm CEST

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Direct download: AIRC_26_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:21pm CEST

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Direct download: Cream_teas_and_Hotdogs_-_AIRC25.mp3
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Direct download: AIRC_024_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:06am CEST

Modal verbs introduction, money vocabulary, guess the phrasal verb  - AIRC23

Libsyn: Puedes ver las trascripciones y las notas de los episodios de nuestros podcasts en inglespodcast.com 

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Direct download: AIRC_023_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:55pm CEST

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Direct download: AIRC_022_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:03pm CEST

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Direct download: AIRC_021_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:09pm CEST

Libsyn: Puedes ver las trascripciones y las notas de los episodios de nuestros podcasts en inglespodcast.com  

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Direct download: AIRC_020_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:54am CEST

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Direct download: AIRC_019_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:22pm CEST

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Direct download: AIRC_018_Bea_Special_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:09pm CEST

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Direct download: AIRC_017_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am CEST

Puedes ver las trascripciones y las notas de los episodios de nuestros podcasts en inglespodcast.com

You can see the show notes and transcriptions of all our podcasts at inglespodcast.com

Direct download: AIRC_016_final_cut.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:37am CEST

We now have a home for our podcasts at: inglespodcast.com

 

What's the difference between GOOD and WELL? (Mara from Valencia)

He's a good footballer (adjective)

There are meny goods produced in Valencia (noun)

Would you like some more coffee? - No thank you, I'm good (Am. English), No thank you, I'm fine (Br. English)

Well (adjective) How are you? - I'm well. / Do you feel well?

Well (adverb) - He runs well. She works well

He's a good swimmer. He swims well.

Well (noun) = un pozo It has that meaning as well (también)

 

Juan Carlos (Barcelona) asks: "Vale la pena tener el IELTS?"

IELTS tests your level of English. You cannot pass or fail IELTS. It is used as an acceptance requirement in many universities. 

It can also be needed if you apply for a visa to certain countries or if you wish to emigrate to certain countries.

IELTS is only valid for 2 years.

Learn more about IELTS here: https://www.ielts.org/

 

Gramática:  More gerunds and infinitives

decide (decidir) - Reza decided to go out for the day

avoid (evitar) - I avoided studying for the IELTS exam

finish (terminar) - Reza finished eating and left the restaurant.

feel like (tener ganas hacer algo) - Reza feels like sleeping

forget (olvidarse) - If you have forgotten 'forget', listen again to episode 14.

promise (prometer) - I promise to help you

agree (estar de acuerdo) - We agreed to stop fighting and become friends. (¡OJO! - We agreed ON doing something)

enjoy (disfrutar) - Reza enjoys doing these podcasts. - I enjoyed myself at the party.

fancy (apetecer) - What do you fancy doing tonight? Reza fancies having a gin and tonic.

refuse (rechazar) - I refuse to give you the money.

offer (ofrecer) - He offered to help me.

hope / expect (esperar) - I hope to pass my exams (you want it to happen) - I expect to pass my exams (you think it is going to happen)

mind (importar) - Do you mind waiting? - I mind waiting for someone to come. - Do you mind if I smoke? - Would you mind if I sat here?

miss (echar de menos) - I miss seeing my friends. - Reza misses drinking Guinness.

suggest (proponer/sugerir) - I suggest seeing your doctor. - I suggest you see the doctor.

seem (parecer) - He seems to be happy.

Puedes estudiar más gerundios y infinitivos aquí: http://www.mansioningles.com/cursointer/cursointer03_5.htm

 

Vocabulary Corner: Valentines Day

to meet / to know / to get to know someone = conocer a alguien

I've known John for a long time. I met him five years ago. Tonight I'm going to meet him at the pub.

to go out with someone = salir con alguien

I'm going out with a girl/boy.

to fall in love = enamorarse - to love someone, to be in love with someone, to fall out of love with someone.

to be crazy/mad about someone = estar chiflado por alguien - to be head over heels on love.

to have a row = reñir(se) I had a row with my neighbour 

to get on well = llevarse bien

to fancy someone = sentirse atraído por alguien (to find someone atractive)

to have an affair (with) = tener una aventura

to kiss = besar(se) 

Estudiar más vocabularo aquí: http://www.mansioningles.com/cursointer/cursointer03_1.htm

 

Phrasal verb: to look after (cuidarse ó cuidar a alguien)

Los phrasal verbs, o 'multi-word verbs' (verbos de dos o más palabras) están formados por un verbo y pequeñas palabras (preposiciónes o partículas adverbiales). 

A veces el significado del verbo cambia a un significado completamente diferente "Look(mirar) + after(después) = cuidarse"!!!

Los phrasal verbs se usan mucho en el inglés informal.

Algunos phrasal verbs tienen más de un significado. (take off - Aprender inglés con Reza y Craig - 14)

En algunos phrasal verbs podemos insertar el complemento entre el verbo y la partícula, o ponerlo después. 

Pero cuando el complemento es un pronombre, siempre va entre el verbo y la partícula.

I took my clothes off. (I took them off)   X I took off them X

... o bien

"I took off my clothes."

Normalmente un phrasal verb se corresponde a un solo verbo en español. "go away" "go in" "go out" "go back" 

El uso de los 'phrasal verbs' es más frecuente en el lenguaje común. En el lenguaje escrito, suelen emplearse verbos equivalentes cuando es posible.

"Take the cover off and put the key in"  "Remove the cover and insert the key"

Study phrasal verbs with the CD "Get ahead with Phrasal Verbs" by Mike Hardinge : http://www.mansioningles.com/otrosproductos/phrasal/phrasal_verbs.htm

 

Send us an email, or a sound file (mensaje de voz en mp3) with a comment or question to craig@inglespodast.com or contact Reza at: belfastreza@gmail.com.

Puedes darnos estrellas y una reseña en iTunes.

 

The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called See You Later - licensed by creative commons under a by-nc license at ccmixter.org.

 

 

Direct download: AIRC_015_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:12pm CEST

Gerunds / infinitives, film vocabulary, pronunciation: /dj/, 'to take off' – AIRC14

Feedback/News: Reza and Craig are back into the routine of teaching after the Christmas break.

A question from Silvio: After verbs like love, start, stop...the following verbs have to go with a

gerund, I think. However,I have read : "It started to rain."

Why not: "It starting raining."?

 

Gramática: Gerunds and infinitives

"It started to rain" and "it started raining" are both correct.

Reza stopped smoking years ago. (he stopped the activity of smoking)

Reza was walking down the road when he stopped to pick up a coin (una moneda). (He stopped doing one thing - walking down the road - to do another thing - pick up a coin)

Reza and Craig stopped podcasting to have a cup of tea.

MAKE (obligar/forzer) - to make someone do something

My teacher made me do my homework again.

Reza made me sing the Mickey Mouse song.

LET (dejar/dar permiso) - Craig lets Reza say many silly things in the podcast.

ALLOW - Allow me to ask a question.

PERMIT - Craig permits Reza to say silly things.

LOVE - "Craig loves/likes to drink coffee" or "Craig loves/likes drinking coffee."

FORGET - I forgot to close the door. (think about something BEFORE it happens)

I forgot giving John the money. (I have no memory of something that ALREADY happpened.

REMEMBER - I remember turning off the gas.

Reza remembers growing up in Belfast. (PAST)

Remember to phone me tomorrow. (FUTURE)

Remember to buy milk on your way home from work.

Study more gerunds and infinitives in our intermediate course: http://www.mansioningles.com/cursointer/cursointer03_5.htm 

 

Miiguelitoo Goonzaleez (Facebook)

Hello, I have a question : "When should I use this word "awesome"?"

The Roman Empire was an awesome force.

This podcast is awesome! (cool, great, wonderful, amazing, incredible)

 

Pronunciación: /dj/ 

judge

June. July, January, jazz, jolly good!

 

Phrasal verb: To take off

Take your books off the table (literal - to remove)

What time did your plane take off? (idiomatic - despegar)

Some comics are good at taking off politicians (impersonar, hacer el ridiculo)

Reza has taken off his trousers! (quitar la ropa)

Our podcast has really taken off. (Idiomatic)  - Nuestro podcast ha tenido mucho éxito.

A business can also "take off"

 

Vocabulary Corner: films/movies

film (UK)

movie (US) - motion picture

dubbed - doblado

subtitled - subtiulado

review (crítica) - a film review, a book review, a review of a play etc. / critic (the person who writes the review)

screenplay / script (guión) Script is a more general word, screenplay is for films,

'teleplay' is a script for television.

 

Practise cinema vocabulary in our intermediate course:

http://www.mansioningles.com/cursointer/cursointer15_1.htm

 

Send us an email, or a sound file (mensaje de voz en mp3) with a comment or question to mansionteachers@yahoo.es or belfastreza@gmail.com.

 

Puedes darnos estrellas y una crítica en iTunes.

 

The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called See You Later - licensed by creative commons under a by-nc license at ccmixter.org.

 

Direct download: AIRC_014_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:01am CEST

The full audio interview with Craig and Jonny.

Watch the video and answer comprension questions here: http://www.mansioningles.com/practica/practicar_ingles09.htm

Ver el video y contesta las preguntas de comprensión aquí: http://www.mansioningles.com/practica/practicar_ingles09.htm

Direct download: Jonny_Podcast_Final_Cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:11pm CEST

The full audio interview with Craig and Anne.

Watch the video and answer comprension questions here: http://www.mansioningles.com/practica/practicar_ingles08.htm

Ver el video y contesta las preguntas de comprensión aquí: http://www.mansioningles.com/practica/practicar_ingles08.htm

Direct download: Anne_Podcast_Final_Cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:41pm CEST

The full audio interview with Craig and Patrick.

Watch the video and answer comprension questions here: http://www.mansioningles.com/practica/practicar_ingles07.htm

Ver el video y contesta las preguntas de comprensión aquí: http://www.mansioningles.com/practica/practicar_ingles07.htm

Direct download: Coffee_with_Craig_and_Patrick_Podcast_Final_Cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:15pm CEST

Feedback/News: Thank you to Enrique (Colombia) for his comment that Craig's Spanish is improving.

 

Gramática:  For, During and While

A question on Facebook from David Blanco Vargas from Sevilla

How to use during

During is a preposition which is used before a noun (during + noun) to say when something happens. It does not tell us how long it happened. For example:

"Nobody spoke during the meeting."

"We don't get any snow here in Valencia during the winter."

"During my childhood I lived on a farm."

How to use while 

When is used to talk about two things that are happening at the same time. The length of time is not important. Remember that while is used with a subject and a verb (while + subject + verb). For example:

"The phone rang while (or when) I was having a shower."

"I met my girlfriend while (or when) we were travelling in South America."

"I'll speak to you when (not XwhileX) I finish my work."

How to use for 

For is a preposition which is used with a period to say how long something goes on:

"We've been podcasting for 2 months."

"I've been living in Valencia for 16 years."

Reza has been teaching English for 20 years."

"Craig has know Reza for a while" (un rato)

 

Vocabulary Corner: Travel words

Trip (countable noun) / travel (is an uncountable noun and a verb)

To go on a trip

to go on a business trip

Journey - 

The journey from Madrid to Valencia takes about 3 and a half hours

Flight (noun) / Fly (verb)

Reza's flight to Belfast was about two and half hours. He took a flight from Alicante.

Voyage - travelling by ship or in space

Cruise - Reza has never been on a cruise. He'd like to cruise around the Mediterranean. 

The titanic wasn't a cruise. It didn't stop at many different places.

 

Learn and revise travel vocabulary in our holiday lesson:

http://www.mansioningles.com/cursointer/cursointer11_1.htm 

 

Phrasal verb: To pick up

Can you pick up that box for me, it’s very heavy. (literal)

I'll pick you up tomorrow morning and take you to the airport. (Idiomatic) - to drop off

"Pick me up at my hotel and drop me off at the airport."

I'll give you a lift - Can you give me a lift to the supermarket?

Give me a ride (American English)

A gin and tonic is a 'pick me up'.

I picked up a girl at a party yesterday, but she wouldn’t give me her phone number. (Idiomatic)

to pick up/to chat up = ligar

to get off with (a girl/boy) = to kiss etc......

 

Pronunciación: Greetings

How are you? - I'm fine

How's it going? - Fine, what about you?

How're you doing? - I'm great, and you?

What's up? 

Alright?

Whatcha!

G'day! (Australia)

good morning (in Ireland) NOT X"Top of the morning to you!"X

 

Reza's Top Tip: Job Interviews

Search on YouTube.com for "job interviews"

Record yourself with a camcorder or with your mobile phone.

Use video to improve your body language and pronunciation.

 

Listen to a job interview and practise work vocabulary:

http://www.mansioningles.com/cursointer/cursointer22_6.htm

 

If you need help with interviews and translatons, contact Reza at belfastreza@gmail.com

 

Send us an email, or a sound file (mensaje de voz en mp3) with a comment or question to mansionteachers@yahoo.es or belfastreza@gmail.com.

 

Puedes darnos estrellas y una crítica en iTunes.

The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called See You Later - licensed by creative commons under a by-nc license at ccmixter.org.

 

 

 

Direct download: AIRC_013_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:40pm CEST

The full audio interview with Craig and Lucy.

Watch the video and answer comprension questions here: http://www.mansioningles.com/practica/practicar_ingles06.htm

Ver el video y contesta las preguntas de comprensión aquí: http://www.mansioningles.com/practica/practicar_ingles06.htm

Direct download: Lucy_Podcast_Final_Cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:52am CEST

The full audio interview with Craig and Wayne.

Watch the video and answer comprension questions here: http://www.mansioningles.com/practica/practicar_ingles05.htm

Ver el video y contesta las preguntas de comprensión aquí: http://www.mansioningles.com/practica/practicar_ingles05.htm

Direct download: Coffee_with_Wayne_Podcast.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:59pm CEST

Hello once again and welcome to another Mansion Ingles podcast. This is podcast number 68 recorded for December 2013.

En el nivel básico practicamos el gerundio, las palabras que terminan en ing y también los grupos o familias de palabras - Word families.

Tenemos un poco de gramática en el nivel intermedio y también algunas colocaciones con los verbos.

We practise some collective nouns at advanced level, and also we help you with what to say in English in certain social situations There's also business vocabulary, as usual, and a translation exercise, all to help you improve your English and take it to the next level.

En los podcasts mensuales hablamos de los temas, vocabulario y ejercicios que salen en nuestro cuaderno mensual. Así podéis practicar la pronunciación y repasar el material del cuaderno. Si quieres recibir gratis el cuaderno cada mes, ver la trascripción de este podcast o leer los anteriores, ve a mansioningles.com y sigue los enlaces en la página principal.

Ok, vamos a empezar con el nivel básico y el gerundio - The gerund, en inglés. ¿cómo se dice el verbo gustar en inglés? - to like; I like, he likes, she likes, we like etc. Cuando empleas otro verbo después del verbo like, puede ser de forma gerundio o de forma infinitive, pero normalmente, cuando hablamos de las actividades y no del resultado de las actividades, usamos el gerundio. Eschucha y repite:

jugar - to play - playing - playing video games. Do you like? Do you like playing video games. I don't like playing video games.

Ver - to watch - repite - to watch - Watching TV. I like watching TV. I like watching sport on TV. I like watching football on TV. Do you like watching TV? - Do you like watching football on TV?

Do you like studying? -  to study - estudiar - repite: studying - I don't like studying - Do you like studying?

¿Cómo se dice comprar? - to buy - repite: buy - buying - Do you like buying books? - Do you like buying clothes - Do you like buying shoes?

To camp - acampar - camping. to go camping - Do you like going camping?

¿Cómo se dice leer en inglés? to read - Repite: to read. reading - reading books - Do you like reading books? - I like reading - I like reading books - My girlfriend likes reading - she likes reading books - she likes reading detective books.

Ducharte - to have a shower - Repite: to have a shower. - having a shower - I like having a shower. I like having a shower in the morning. It wakes me up. Me despierta - It wakes me up. - Repite: It wakes me up. A shower wakes me up. A shower in the morning wakes me up. I like having a hot shower in the morning.

Board games son juegos de mesa. Repite: board games - to play - to play board games - playing board games - I like playing board games. Do you like playing board games?

¿Cómo se dice acostarte? - to go to bed. Repite: to go to bed - going to bed - I like going to bed. I like going to bed early - Do you like going to bed early? I always go to bed early during the week.

Well done! - !Muy bien!

También en el nivel básico este mes hemos estudiado algunas palabras en grupo. Las familias de palabras o Word Families. Por ejemplo, si digo short y tall, tal vez das cuenta que tall (o sea, alto) es el antónimo de short - bajo: alto-bajo, tall-short. Entonces, si digo easy, ¿Qué me vas a decir? ¿Cuál es el antónimo de easy? Pues, difficult. ¿y cheap? - expensive.

A ver si puedes identificar la familia de las siguientes palabras y decir qué palabra en inglés viene despues de las palabras que voy a decir. Luego, repite las palabras conmigo para practicar la pronunciación. ¿Listos? Ready?

football - play             work -  do                  TV - watch

father - son                mother - daughter              brother - sister

apples, oranges, bananas - fruit 

shirts, socks, dresses - clothes 

chairs, tables, sofas - furniture

1st - first            2nd - second             3rd - third

Ok good, now moving on to the intermediate section, and in this month's cuaderno we looked at some general grammar. For example, the word 'yet' with the present perfect when it means todavía o aún - She isn't here yet. - Todavía no llega. o Aún no llega. Repeat: She isn't here yet. I haven't done it yet. Have you finished yet? - ‘Has the film finished?’ ‘No, not yet.

¡Ojo! - Don't confuse yet with already. Both these words are often used with the present perfect. Already means 'so soon' or ya, in Spanish. For example,        Have you eaten your dinner already? - ¿Ya has cenado? - I have already been to Paris. - Ya he estado en París.

Repeat: I've already been to Paris. Have you eaten lunch yet? Yes, I've already eaten lunch. I've already done it.

Phrases like so do I  and neither do I are used as responses to show a similar attitude or opinion. You can show that you agree or disagree with someone by using So do I neither do I , me too, me neither etc.

Listen and repeat: I'm a student- So am I. I'm not married - neither am I - I like football - So do I - I don't like golf - neither do I. I'm not very hungry - Neither am I. Nota que se repite el verbo auxiliar cuando se responde. I'm hungry (el verbo auxiliar es to be) I'm hungry, so am I. I don't like golf (el verb auxiliar es do) Neither do I. Si no hay verbo auxiliar, por ejemplo en I like swimming, usa el verbo do - So do I.

También puedes decir me too (yo también) y me neither (yo tampoco). Repeat: I really like Science fiction - me too! - but I don't like horror films - Me neither.  Escucha mi opinión sobre algunas cosas y responde con So do I y Neither do I or Me too y me neither.

I love chocolate

I don't like negative people

I really enjoy going to the beach.

I think Brad Pitt is a very good actor.

I like Tom Cruise

But I don't like Kevin Costner very much

I think Keira Knightly is really sexy.

Many students of English, including my students here in Valencia, think that will is only used to talk about the future. I will see you tomorrow, they say. Or, I will go to London for Christmas. Well, you can use will to talk about the future, but it can also be used to make offers. You see a beautiful girl with a heavy suitcase. You can say. "Excuse me, I'll help you with that". Your teacher is carrying about 12 dictionaries, some papers and a briefcase. You can say, "I'll open the door for you." Your guests are leaving your house and putting on their coats. You can say, "I'll help you with your coat". Remember to use the contraction I will - I'll. Repeat; I'll - I'll help you - I'll open the door. - I'll get your coat.

When you talk about future plans and arrangements, you can use the present continuous tense. Repeat, I'm going shopping tomorrow, I'm flying to Paris next week - I'm having my hair cut on Wednesday. It's also common to use the present continuous when you ask a question about someone's plans. Repeat, What are you doing on Saturday? Are you going away for the weekend? What time are you coming into work tomorrow? Where are you staying in New York?

In the vocabulary section, we looked at verbs that go together with several words and expressions. Yo voy a decir las palabras y las expresiones y tú tienes que decir el verbo que puede ir con ellas. Por ejemplo, si digo : money,  someone's life y energy, ¿sabes qué verbo puede ir con las tres palabras? - Pues el verbo save. Podemos decir save money, save energy and save someone's life. He saved my life.

Vamos a intentar con otras tres palabras: the bill (la cuenta) the bill, a compliment y attention. ¿Cuál es el verbo? - PAY. Repeat: to pay a compliment. She paid me a lovely compliment; attention - to pay attention. Are you paying attention? Pay attention in class! Pay attention when I'm speaking to you! and to pay the bill. Have you paid the bill? Please, let me pay the bill.

Ok, what about these three: your best, the shopping, some work - Es el verbo do. Repeat: do the shopping, do some work, do your best. I must do some shopping this afternoon. I need to do some work this weekend. Don't worry about the test. Just do your best.

Here are three more: a game, the guitar, chess (ajedrez). PLAY. Repeat; play chess. Can you play chess? Play a game - Let's play a video game!  Play the guitar. I've been playing the guitar for five years. I wish I could play the guitar. Actually, I wish I could play any musical instrument, but I'm too lazy to learn.

Three more: your clothes, planes, a 500 euro note. - Change, because you change planes during a long flight. You change a 500 euro or a 100 euro note, or a $100 dollar bill for smaller money (nota que se dice bill for dollars and note for euros - a $50 dollar bill and a 50 euros note, or a 50 pound note) and you change your clothes.

Try these three: a law, the biscuits, a driving test or an exam - pass. They passed a law/a law was passed, Can you pass the biscuits, please? How do you say biscuits in American English? Cookies. Repeat: Can you pass the cookies, please? And you can pass a driving test, pass an exam, pass a test. What's the opposite of pass a test? fail. to fail a test. Repeat: Did you pass? Did you pass or fail?

Ok, three more: the truth, a story, him to come in - TELL. Repeat; tell the truth. It's important to tell the truth, You must tell the truth. i hate people who don't tell the truth. Tell a story, let me tell you a story. My granddad was always telling stories. Tell him to come in. Can you tell him to come in, please? Tell her to come in. Tell them to come in.

 

In the advanced section this month, we looked at some collective nouns. These are expressions we use to describe a group of animals, or several things together. For example, if there are a lot of people together in one place, we can say a crowd of people. Repeat: A crowd of people. There was a crowd of people outside the Apple store. But when there are a group of actors together, we can say a company of actors. Repeat. A company of actors.

WAD is used to describe many banknotes. We can say there's a wad of 50 pound notes or He took a huge wad of euros out of his pocket..

A team of experts - many experts together. Repeat: a team of experts. A team of experts advised the governmnent.

Moving on to fruit and we can say a bunch of grapes or a bunch of bananas. Repeat: a bunch of grapes. I've brought you a bunch of grapes.

Many thieves together are called a pack of thieves. Similar to a pack of dogs or a pack of wolves, and we also use pack when we talk about playing cards - las cartas - a pack of cards. I'm taking a pack of cards on holiday.

Finally, a group of lions together is called a pride of lions. pride usually means orgullo, but we also use it for a group of lions (una manada), a pride of lions.

Moving on to the next exercise in which you had to choose the best answer in certain situations. For example, someone says to you - "Do you really think the government will cut back even more on the health service and education?"

- I wouldn't put it past them. This means, no me sorprendería. Repeat: I wouldn't put it past them. Will they reduce my salary? I wouldn't put it past them. Do you think they'll make more health and education cuts? . I wouldn't put it past them!

The next expression was "That makes a change" - Imagine you live in the UK and you wake up one morning and the sun is shinning. Your partner says, "It's a beautiful sunny day!" - You say, That makes a change!

The price of tomatoes has gone down. Oh, that makes a change. This cake I made is really nice - That makes a change! The manager has been really nice lately. - That makes a change.

I'd rather not if you don't mind. Preferiría que no te importase. Repeat: I'd rather not if you don't mind. Would you like some more dessert? I'd rather not if you don't mind. Can you lend me your camera? I'd rather not if you don't mind. Can you work this weekend? I'd rather not if you don't mind.

Serves you right, or it serves you right means te lo mereces.

Repeat: It serves you right!

I was fined for speeding - Serves you right! I lost 600 euros playing poker - It serves you right!

She was arrested for stealing - Serves her right!

If you haven't got the foggiest about something you have no idea - ni idea - you haven't got a clue. Repeat: I haven't the foggiest, I haven't got the foggiest. What time does the train leave' Haven't go the foggiest - How  much does it cost? I haven't got the foggiest. When will they be here? Haven't the foggiest.

And finally, there was an expression with I bet. to bet means apostar. I bet you will, for example, means I'm sure you will. Someone says "If they offer me the job, I'll take it" you could say "I bet you will" -¡Claro!, como que no!

Tiene un cierto significado sarcástico, irónico.

"I always dispose of my rubbish in an ecologically responsible way." - I bet you do!

If he asks for my phone number, I won't give it to him." - i bet you won't!

In the Business English section this month we looked at some more business English vocabulary. Red tape is bureaucracy, papeleo. Repeat, red tape. There's a lot of red tape involved in getting your residency in this country. I couldn't believe all the red tape I had to go through.

By the time I'm 55, I'll have retired. That's the future perfect. I will have retired. It's similar to the present perfect, but with will for the future. Will + have + participle of the verb - will have retired. By the time I'm 55 means when I'm 55 or before. El tiempo hasta que comple 55 años. By next Thursday means next Thursday or before. Repeat. I'll have finished this by next Thursday. I'll have seen you

before next week. We'll have painted the flat by the time you come.

Listen: Our business has really taken off. If a business takes off it becomes successful. imagine a plane taking off. It goes up into the sky. A business or company can also take off. Since we started advertising, the business has really taken off.

To implement a change means to make a change. To put a change into action. Repeat: to implement a change - to implement changes. Have you implemented those changes we talked about? When are you going to implement the changes?.

We also gave you some more sentences to translate in this month's cuaderno. First, you had to translate from English to Spanish. So,  I'll say the English sentences and you say the Spanish translation before I do. Then, repeat the English sentence after me to practise pronunciation. Ready?

I told you I was going to do it. - Te dije que lo iba a hacer.  Repite:

I told you I was going to do it.

I lost the only friend I had. - Perdí el único amigo que tenía. Repite: I lost the only friend I had

They travelled all over/all around/throughout Europe. - Viajaron por toda Europa. Repite: They travelled all over/all around/throughout Europe.

It has to be signed. - Tiene que ser firmado. Repite: It has to be signed.

The plant grew quickly. - La planta creció rápidamente. Repite: The plant grew quickly.

Good, now I'll read some Spanish sentences with my terrible Spanish accent, and you translate to English before I do. Then repeat the sentences after me to practise your pronunciation. OK?

Su cara es muy expresiva (ella). - Her face is very expressive. Repite: Her face is very expressive.

¿Por qué no están listos los niños? - Why aren’t the children ready? Repite: Why aren’t the children ready?

¿Quién la plantó? - Who planted it? Repite: Who planted it?

¿Por qué no intentaste pararme? - Why didn’t you try to stop me? Repite: Why didn’t you try to stop me?

La vida es corta, ¿no? - Life’s short, isn’t it? Repite: Life’s short, isn’t it? Wonderful! Well done!

Well, we've reached the end of this podcast, but we will of course be back next month with another podcast based on our monthly newsletter, our cuaderno de inglés mensual.

Remember, you can listen to all our previous podcasts at mansioningles.com and of course on iTunes. And don't forget to check out - check out=mirar, echar un vistazo - check out our new podcast called Aprender inglés con Reza y Craig en lo que hablo con mi amigo Reza sobre el vocabulario, la gramática y la pronunciación de inglés. Puedes encontrarlo también en iTunes.

 

Si te gustan nuestros podcasts, puedes ayudarnos con una corta reseña en iTunes contribuyendo así a que más personas puedan conocernos y escucharnos. Gracias a todos los que ya han escrito algún comentario. Thank you to all of you who are writing reviews.

Thank you very much for listening to this podcast, and for being part of the community of La Mansión del Inglés.

Remember, If you want to contact us you can find us on Facebook. Just search Facebook for La Mansión del Inglés where you can ask questions, make comments and do exercises and practise your listening. Or you can send me an email to: mansionteachers@yahoo.es. You can also follow us on Twitter where we tweet useful links to improve your English, English slang vocabulary, quotations and much more. Our Twitter name is MansionTwit.

Puedes ver el cuaderno mensual de este mes, y todos los cuadernos anteriores en www.cuadernodeingles.com/

Until next month then, keep practising and taking your English to the next level! Take care and bye for now!

 

The music in this month’s podcast is by Revolution Void, the album is The Politics of Desire and the track is called Outer Orbit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct download: podcast__cuaderno68_december2013.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:15pm CEST

Las notas del episodio

Did Reza make and keep his New Year's resolution to learn something new?

Feedback, news and questions:

We are still waiting for a recipe for dulce de leche.

Thanks to Emilse (Argentina) and Daniel (Mexico) for their messages.

 

Gramática:  some and any

Craig brought Reza some salt from Chile (positive sentence)

He didn't bring him anything from Argentina (negative)

Have you got any souvenirs from Laos (question)

Can I have some food? (Use 'some' for requests)

Reza would like some fish

Would you like something to eat? (a more closed, specific offer)

Would you like anything to eat? (an open offer)

Craig likes some classical music (not all classical music)

Craig likes any jazz music (all jazz music)

Pick any card

Craig likes anything with chocolate

He likes some fruit desserts

 

Pronunciación: Nice to meet you - Pleased to meet you

What are you doing? = Watcha doin'?

"Whatcha!" (In London)

"'Boutcha!" (in Belfast)

 

Phrasal verb: get (a)round

Craig really gets around - he goes to many places

Craig's mum finds it hard to get around these days (moverse, desplazarse)

It has got around that the French president is said to be having an affair.

At Christmas dinner, families get around the table.

There's no getting around the fact. = you can't avoid it.

Sportsmen and women try to get around the rules.

I'll get that parcel round to you = to deliver

Reza never gets around to decorating his flat.

 

Vocabulary Corner: money

ganar = to earn/to win

win a competition, win a game, win at the casino, win the lottery

earn a salary, earn respect, earn money

borrow (from) = tener prestado / lend (to) = prestar

A bank lends money to you. You borrow money from the bank.

a loan = un prestamo  

Good luck getting a bank loan in Spain these days!

pay for - I'll pay for the drinks - It's my treat (te invito)

It's on me

I'll get it

It's my shout (British colloquial English)

It's my round

 

Reza's Top Tip: Presentations

Have good notes

Check your English (spelling and grammar) on slides and visuals

Practise in front of the mirror

Speak to a family member, pet dog or cat

Check body language as you present

practice, practice, practice!

Use (small) note cards, but don't read a full text.

Make eye contact

Smile a lot!

 

Contact Reza at belfastreza@gmail.com for help with translations and presentations.

Send us an email, or a sound file (mensaje de voz en mp3) with a comment or question to mansionteachers@yahoo.es or belfastreza@gmail.com.

Puedes darnos estrellas y una crítica en iTunes.

The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called See You Later - licensed by creative commons under a by-nc license at ccmixter.org.

 

 

 

Direct download: AIRC_012_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:16pm CEST

Las notas del episodio

What did you get for Christmas? Did Reza get a scarf, some socks and a wallet from his mum? Has Craig got his bathroom finished yet?

 

Gramática:  1st and 2nd conditional.

If you study hard, you will learn a lot of English (1st conditional - If + present simple + will)

Use the 1st conditional to talk about possible/probable things.

If you stick to your diet, you will lose weight.

If you don't do exercise, you'll put on weight.

Unless you do exercise, you'll put on weight.

You will learn a lot if you listen to this podcast.

If you bought a lottery ticket, you would/might possible win. (2nd conditional) - If + past simple + would

 

If I win the lottery, I will (I'll) travel around the world. (1st conditional)

if I won the lottery, I would (I'd) travel around the world (2nd conditional)

 

If I were/was Prime Minister, I'd lower taxes.

If Craig were Mickey Mouse he would go to the pub with Scooby Doo. Reza, on the other hand, would prefer to have a beer with Bugs Bunny.

 

Estudiar los condicionales en nuestro curso intermedio: http://www.mansioningles.com/cursointer/cursointer11_5.htm

http://www.mansioningles.com/cursointer/cursointer15_5.htm

http://www.mansioningles.com/cursointer/cursointer16_6.htm

 

Pronunciación: Word stress in numbers:

14 - 40 - fourteen / forty

70 - 17 - seventy / seventeen

30 - 13 - thirty / thirteen

16 - 60 - sixteen / sixty

 

¡OJO! - Except when we're counting! 13, 14, 15, 16 etc.

 

Phrasal verb: Put up

Many people put up Christmas decorations (montar)

I'm going to put up a couple of photos on the wall. (colgar)

 

Would you mind putting me up for the weekend? (hospedar, dar alojamiento)

The boxer lost the match but he put up a fight.

You can put up money for something - How much money did they put up to build the airport in Castellon?

Put up or shut up! Act or be quiet.

Put up something for sale on eBay.

We try to put up a new podcast episode every week.

Craig puts up with Reza's Mickey Mouse comments (suportar, aguantar)

Craig has to put up with Reza every week!

 

Vocabulary Corner: New Year's Resolution - Resolución de Año Nuevo

8% of people who MAKE New Year's Resolutions actually KEEP them.

 

TOP TEN NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

The most popular resolutions are:

  1. lose weight - (put on weight) and do more exercise
  2. eat more healthily
  3. save money
  4. get a better job
  5. spend more time with family and friends
  6. travel more
  7. stop smoking and drinking (alcohol)
  8. get organised
  9. learn something new
  10. Read more books

 

Are you going to make any New Year's Resolutions this year?

Send us an email, or a sound file (mensaje de voz en mp3) to mansionteachers@yahoo.es and tell us.

 

Reza's Top Tip: Self check spelling

accommodation

regrettable

unstoppable

which / witch (bruja)

 

Craig and Reza recommend Oxford and Collins dictionaries, and www.wordreference.com

 

The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called See You Later - licensed by creative commons under a by-nc license at ccmixter.org.

 

Si quieres mandarnos un comentario sobre este podcast o una pregunta sobre el inglés, puedes ponerse en contacto con Reza a belfastreza@gmail.com y a con Craig a mansionteachers@yahoo.es.

 

 

Direct download: AIRC_011_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am CEST