Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Training and Employment Advise

Unit 1: Essential Expressions

• Appeal (Atreure)
• Dare (Atrevir-se)
• Go wrong (Salir mal)
• Make sure
• On the spur of the moment (Espontàniament)
• Play safe (Anar sobre segur)
• Think twice (Pensar-s'ho dues vegades)
• Willing (Disposat)
• A close shave (Sortir-se'n pels pèls)
• Cut it fine
• Just in case (Per si de cas)
• Safe and sound (Sa i estalvi)
• The coast was clear (No habian moros en la costa)
• Fast asleep (Sobado)
• Wide awake (Molt despert)
• Brand new (Nou de trinca)
• Soaking wet (Empapado)
• Wide open (Obert de bat a bat)
• Pitch black (Totalment obscur)
• Rock hard (Dur com una pedra)

Adverbs of Degree

Extreme Adverbs

Completely, quite, really (e.g., terrifying, petrified, spectacular, exhilarating, starving, gigantic, exhausted, filthy, fascinated)

Ordinary Adverbs

Absolutely, extremely,... Continue reading "Essential Vocabulary and Phrases for English Learners" »

Essential English Vocabulary for Art and Creativity

Art Terminology and Definitions

• abstract
• cave painting (pintura rupestre)
• graffiti
• landscape (paisatge)
• photograph (fotografia)
• portrait (retrat)
• sculpture
• still life (bodega)
• street art (art urbà)

Verbs Related to Art Creation and Display

• enlarge (ampliar)
• frame (marc)
• hang (penjar)
• print (imprimir)
• save to hard drive (guardar-ho en un dispositiu)
• take (fer una foto)

People and Tools in the Art World

• artist
• brush (pinzell)
• easel (caballet)
• gallery
• model
• paint
• palette
• pedestal
• portfolio
• sculptor
• sculpture
• bust
• photography

Grammar Focus: Make vs. Do

Understanding the difference between make and do is crucial for fluency.

Using "Make"

We usually use make to talk about creating or constructing something, or producing a result.... Continue reading "Essential English Grammar and Art Vocabulary Review" »

The Picture of Dorian Gray: Book vs. Film Differences

This list details 25 significant changes made in the film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, focusing on plot points, character fates, and key thematic alterations.

Key Plot and Character Changes

1. Flashback Sequence: In the film, a flashback sequence appears at the beginning that is absent in the book.
2. Sibyl Vane's Death: Sibyl Vane does not drown herself in the river in the book; she commits suicide by taking poison.
3. Sibyl's Role: Sibyl Vane performs as Juliet in the book, but as Ophelia in the film.
4. Argument with Sibyl: In the book, Dorian is cruel to Sibyl because of her poor stage performance. In the film, their argument centers on the topic of having children.

Reported Speech: Functions and Tense Changes

1. Reporting Verbs and Functions

The choice of reporting verb depends on the function of the original statement:

• Orders: ordered (followed by infinitive).
• Requests (Peticiones): asked (often used for 'could' or 'please').
• Advice (Consejo): advised (often used for 'should' or 'in my opinion').
• Offers (Ofertas): offered (often used for 'would you like').
• Suggestions (Sugerencias): Use the structure Subject + suggested + V-ing (Used for phrases like 'let's', 'what about', 'why don't we', or 'how about').

2. Tense and Modal Shifts

When converting direct speech to indirect speech, tenses and modals typically shift backward:

Tense Shifts (Direct → Indirect)

• Present Simple (PR.S.) → Past Simple (PS.S.)
• Present

This sentence is true. According to the text, the text states that, because the text states that. Nowadays (it is a well-known fact, everyone agrees that), in general, as far as we know (the question is whether this is good for everyone). There are several reasons why I would choose this type of place.

• On the one hand, firstly, secondly
• On the other hand, in contrast, besides, many people (think/do)

(let us now move on to, another factor to take into account is, and that is not all, as I see it, I'm of the point that, and I shall take as an example, it can be seen that .. there is, it is a fact that, it can be assumed that, it is clear that, without a doubt, it is hard to believe that, from my point of view,)

To sum up I would like to say that,

English-Spanish Business Vocabulary

Unit 2

5. To motivate: motivar = To inspire (incentivar)

• Motivation: motivación
• Motivational: motivador, motivacional
• Motivated: motivado
• Highly motivated: super motivado, entusiasta
• Motivational skills: habilidades/capacidad de motivación
• Motivation techniques: técnicas de motivación
• To encourage (syn.): animar, alentar

6. Objective: objetivo o meta (goal/aim/target).

• Set (fijar, establecer) / fix (fijar) / establish / achieve (alcanzar) / meet (alcanzar) objectives (collocations).

7. Staff: personal. (Syn.: personnel, employees, workers).

• to staff: proveer de personal.
• Staff morale: la moral del personal
• Staff turnover: rotación de personal

8. Subordinate: subordinado.

• To subordinate: subordinar.

9. To supervise: supervisar.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Basil's Demise

On the eve of Dorian Gray's thirty-eighth birthday, he encountered his friend Basil Hallward, who was about to depart for Paris. Basil, concerned about the rumors surrounding Dorian's reputation, expressed his desire to see Dorian's soul. Dorian reluctantly revealed his portrait to Basil. In a fit of rage, Dorian stabbed Basil to death.

The Aftermath of Murder

The following morning, Dorian enlisted the help of Alan Campbell, an old friend, to dispose of Basil's body. Initially reluctant, Alan eventually agreed after Dorian presented him with an incriminating document. Together, they concealed the evidence of the crime.

A Chance Encounter

Seeking solace in opium, Dorian ventured into a den where he encountered... Continue reading "The Picture of Dorian Gray: A Tale of Beauty and Ruin" »

Perfect Tenses

Present Perfect: The car(s) has/have been designed.

Past Perfect: The car(s) had been designed.

Future Perfect: The car(s) will have been designed.

Conditional Sentences

First Conditional

Structure: If + Present Simple + Future Simple

Usage: Real or possible situations.

Examples:

• If it rains today, I'll stay at home.
• If he is busy now, I will come back tomorrow.
• If she doesn't call you, you can call her.
• If you work hard, you may become a millionaire someday.
• If they don't invite you, you must not go.

Second Conditional

Structure: If + Past Simple + would/could/might + verb

Usage: Hypothetical situations.

Examples:

• If I were in Brazil, I would go to Rio de Janeiro.
• If it were not raining, we could go out.
• If they worked for that company, they might

Pre-War Foundations of Galician Language (1906-1923)

Significant events occurred during the subsequent years:

• 1906: Foundation of the Real Academia Galega (Royal Galician Academy).
• 1916: Creation of the first Irmandades da Fala (Brotherhoods of the Language) in A Coruña. These associations sought to defend, diffuse, and promote the use of Galician. With them, Galician nationalism emerged, fostering a tendency to use the language systematically and exclusively for all types of writings.
• 1920: Creation of the magazine Nós, which gave its name to the group that founded it, defining a literary generation and a historical period of Galician culture.
• 1923: Constitution of the Seminario de Estudos Galegos (Seminar of Galician Studies) in Santiago de

A Diáspora Galega en Bos Aires e Montevideo

En Bos Aires e Montevideo concentráronse moitos intelectuais que lograron fuxir da represión franquista, como Castelao, Seoane, Dieste, etc. A eles sumáronse persoeiros como Blanco Amor, Emilio Varela Buxán e outros. Esta concentración reforzou as posicións políticas do galeguismo.

Entre as moitas iniciativas levadas a cabo por esta organización, destacan:

• Organización de exposicións e conferencias.
• Fundación de varias editoriais (como EMECÉ e Citania).
• Publicación de obras emblemáticas da nosa literatura, como Sempre en Galiza e A Esmorga.
• Creación de xornais e revistas emigrantes (Galeuzca e Galicia).
• Constitución de grupos musicais, como o coro Majura Villanueva.
• Creación de varias axencias