Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for French

Starter Unit: Education Vocabulary

• qualification (título) ≠ mark (calificación)
• college (universidad) ≠ school (colegio)
• allowance (educational maintenance)
• degree (título de universidad) ≠ career (trayectoria profesional)
• encourage (support)
• skip (choose / omitir)
• wage (paid every week) / salary (paid every month)
• amount (a lot of money / cantidad de dinero)

Memory & Experience Vocabulary

• appointment (cita)
• calendar
• diary (agenda)
• forget
• learnt by heart = memorize (aprender de memoria)
• memory (memoria)
• mind (mente)
• recall (recordar)
• remember (acordarse)
• remind (hacer recordar / fer pensar)
• exactitud (accuracy)
• remarkable (unusually good)
• recited (said from memory)
• very surprising (astonishing)
• top marks (maximum points)
• anxious (inquieto, nervioso) ≠

The Paris police announced the prohibition of a snack giant organized through Facebook for next Sunday at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, as consuming alcohol is permanently forbidden in that public space.

The snack giant planned for May 23 may not take place because the consumption of alcohol is banned permanently in that public space, according to a statement from the capital city police.

Security Measures in Place

The Eiffel Tower and its surroundings are among the most popular tourist spots in the French capital. The police formally discouraged attendance on Sunday from 18:00 local time at Campo de Marte, the green space at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.

For security reasons, the police will ban the transportation and possession of bottles and... Continue reading "Paris Police Prohibits Alcohol Consumption at Eiffel Tower Event" »

Simple Past Tense: Regular and Irregular Verbs

Forming Simple Past Sentences

• Affirmative: Subject + verb (past form) + complement
• Negative: Subject + auxiliary (did) + not + verb (base form) + complement
• Interrogative: Auxiliary (Did) + subject + verb (base form) + complement?

Simple Past Examples

• I bought a pair of shoes yesterday.
• I didn't buy a pair of shoes yesterday.
• Did I buy a pair of shoes yesterday?

Practice Exercises: Simple Past

1. A: Did you go fishing last weekend?

   B: No, but I went swimming.

2. Yesterday, Ron found a cat on the street and took it home.
3. Yesterday, the school basketball team played against Northbridge. There were a lot of people at the game.
4. Dennis was in Barcelona last weekend and he visited many places.

Modal Verb "Would"

Understanding

English Grammar Fundamentals: Simple Past Tense

Household Chores Vocabulary

• Vacuum: Pasar la aspiradora
• Wash/Do the dishes: Lavar los platos
• Work in the garden: Trabajar en el jardín
• Pay the bills: Pagar las cuentas
• Do the laundry: Lavar la ropa
• Dust: Quitar el polvo

Simple Past Tense: Regular Verbs

Affirmative Example: I studied on Sunday.

Expressing Negatives (Simple Past)

Structure: Subject + did not (didn't) + Base Verb.

Example: I didn't study on Sunday.

Irregular Verbs (Past Tense)

Bought:

Compró

Drank:

Bebió

Had:

Tuvo/Había

Got up:

Se levantó

Met:

Se reunió/Se juntó

Sang:

Cantó

Wrote:

Escribió

Grew:

Creció

Took:

Tomó

See (Past: Saw):

Vio

Eat (Past: Ate):

Comió

Sleep (Past: Slept):

Durmió

Go (Past: Went):

Fue

Yes/No Questions in Simple Past

Example: Did you watch... Continue reading "Essential English Vocabulary and Simple Past Tense Review" »

House Rooms and Floors

Ground floor: garage, kitchen

First floor: sitting room, terrace, bathroom, toilets

Second floor: attic

Negative Forms and Expressions

I haven't talked. You're not speaking. He/She did not speak.

Professions and Activities

Fashion designer, guide, filmmaker, footballer, journalist, musician, cook, user, tennis player, dancer, hairdresser.

Past Tense Practice

I woke up.

Possessive Adjectives

I / my, my / our, our

You your / your / your

He / his / his / his, they their / their / their

Clothing Vocabulary

Men: sweatshirt, sneakers, socks, cap, t-shirt, tracksuit, jacket, vest, tie, shirt

Women: tank top, skirt, belt, scarf, shoes, boots, dress

Opinions and Comments

(The sweatsuits I find very comfortable. Our uniform, I find it very practical.... Continue reading "French Verb Conjugation and Vocabulary Guide for Beginners" »

Présentation personnelle

Je m'appelle José, j'ai dix-sept ans et j'habite à Málaga. Je suis étudiant en 2^e année de bac au lycée Los Mártires. Je me considère sympa et un peu vague.

Dans ma famille, le mieux, c'est ma tante, parce qu'elle est jeune et nous avons les mêmes goûts. Avec ma sœur, je me dispute toujours, parce qu'elle est plus petite que moi et elle ne me laisse pas tranquille.

Mes grands-parents sont très calmes et gentils. Avec mes parents, je suis bien parfois, mais parfois je suis mal.

Les saisons

• Le printemps (spring)
• L'été (summer)
• L'automne (autumn)
• L'hiver (winter)

Nous ne sommes pas en été, nous sommes en automne.
Tout le monde va en vacances au printemps.

Les jours de la semaine et les mois

Lundi, mardi, mercredi,

Understanding Grammar in Language Teaching

Grammar is often misunderstood in the language teaching field. Instead of viewing grammar as a static system of arbitrary rules, it should be seen as a rational, dynamic system comprised of structures characterized by the three dimensions of form and use.

Myths About Grammar

Grammar is acquired naturally; it need not be taught.

It is true that some learners acquire second language grammar naturally without instruction. For example, there are immigrants to the United States who acquire proficiency in English on their own. Chomsky showed that native English speakers were still in the process of acquiring certain grammatical structures in English well into adolescence.

Grammar is boring.

This myth is derived... Continue reading "Understanding Grammar in Language Teaching: Key Concepts" »

Vocabulary: Places and People in the City (En Ville)

City Locations and Shops

• La pharmacie: The pharmacy
• La banque: The bank
• Le supermarché: The supermarket
• Le bureau de poste: The post office / Mail
• Le jardin public: The public garden
• Un immeuble: A building / Apartment block
• La boulangerie-pâtisserie: The bakery-pastry shop
• La boucherie-charcuterie: The butcher shop
• La poissonnerie: The fishmonger's shop
• Le bureau de tabac: The tobacconist's shop
• Le bus: The bus

Professions and People

• Le jardinier: The gardener
• Le facteur: The postman
• La caissière: The cashier
• L'employé(e) de banque: The bank employee
• Le médecin: The doctor
• L'infirmier / L'infirmière: The nurse
• Le buraliste: The tobacconist (person)
• Le poissonnier: The fishmonger (person)
• Le boucher-charcutier:

Advantages and Disadvantages of Working from Home

When considering the option of working from home, I find both advantages and disadvantages. Not having to commute to your workplace each morning is a definite advantage, as you save money on transport and avoid the stress of rush hour. Another benefit is being able to eat at home, which is both cheaper and healthier.

However, I believe there are significant drawbacks. Organizing your own time requires two essential qualities that not everyone possesses: self-discipline and good organization. Furthermore, while working from home offers more contact with family, it can also lead to more distractions and unnecessary breaks. Ultimately, working from home involves isolation; I would prefer the stress... Continue reading "Pros and Cons of Remote Work and Television Impact" »