APOLOGISING

There are several expressions used in English to offer an apology, like "I'm sorry", "I beg your pardon", "I must apologise". Here are some links to learn more about it.

First connect to the BBC Flatmates series. Listen to the episode first, then go to the Language point and finally take the quiz:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode102/index.shtml

You can also see an episode from "Everybody Loves Raymond" which shows a situation where apologising is not so easy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfZJpu34maw

Another apologising situation from the show "Friends"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIIm7yBdUG4

Enjoy!

A Recommendation: BBC The Money Programme: Dream Commuters

Here is a suggestion for extra practice on lesson 2.4 Dream Commuters (Level 3). Click on the link below, you will find an interesting articles to practice reading comprehension. You can also access other sections like Radio, where you have a variety of programmes to practice listening comprehension.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6385851.stm

The funniest travel

The funniest travel

When I was in the last year of the university, my classmates and I went to Puebla to visit different places, this has been the most amazing experience because was the funniest travel I’ve ever done. We knew the highest church, saw many animals when we went to African Safari and eat the most delicious Poblana’s food.

This is a travel that y want to do again.   

MINE EL EDEN

Last holidays I went to Zacatecas with my brother and his wife. I went sightseeing saw the church in the downtown and I visited a lot of silversmith´s. But the most incredible was when we visited a mine. First we walked to the hill and then we got on the mine train. We introduced in a dark tunnel and we saw many rocks and minerals in the museum. I discovered that gold and silver in its natural state glow in the dark.

I touched a paunchy miner estatue because the guide tourist said me if I touched it I will have good luck with the money and I threw a coin into a wishing well. Finally we arrived in the surface of the hill and we went to ate in a special restaurant. 

Zacatecas is the coldest place that I have known but would return again!

ADVERTISEMENT...

ALCATEL ONE TOUCH

I sell my cell phone, it is fairly only used for four months. I need to get money because I didn´t pass a exam and my parents don´t want to pay form my mistakes and I have to present a new exam next week. It is in really good conditions and its color you´ll love. 

This is a extremely good deal for young girls who want a cell phone with camera and yu will watch all videos that you want and you can connect to the tv.

It´s a good opportunity for buy something cheapest.

CALLING ALL ENTREPENEURS...

I have a good business idea and I would like to be the winner of the Entrepeneur of the Year Award because we will be given up to 10,000 to help start the business.

We plan to open a restaurant called Xoconostle. Our idea is to important because mexican food is heritage and we are interested in save it. 

This business is a way which we save and share traditional flavors from kitchens of Mexico.  It will be different because we will cook family recypes and our dishes are will the best of the country.

I ♥ Riviera Maya!

I ♥ Riviera Maya!

     Since too many years ago, my friends and I had planned to trip at Riviera Maya. For many reasons we didn’t achieve it… until now!

     May 1^st, I went to Riviera Maya with Veronica and Gina. We stayed in Barceló Resort Hotel. Were wonderful! The landscape is beautiful in the Caribbean; food was delicious; service was incredible… all about this travel was amazing. We enjoyed every minute in the hotel. We swam in the sea, took an aqua aerobics lesson, drank delicious drinks – we tasted every kind on the bar’s menu! – told and laughed a lot, got too much sun, danced in the night club, walked on the beach… All these during 3 days and 2 nights! We had too much fun. So the last day, we almost cried.

     Vero, Gina and I plan go back with more friends. Doubtlessly, this travel was the best of the year.   

Susana Campos

Nine West by Combi

     Thousands of women - anthropologist, marketers, biologist, scientist, teachers- , every day go to their jobs by public transportation. The most of them love pretty shoes, but need comfort to walk across streets, to avoid cars and arrive at their workplaces. 

     For all of them, we designed a line of footwear which protects 

feet anatomy without neglect elegancy and style.

     This brand has shoes of different colors and models.

Lovely high-heel shoes, adventurous platforms, fashionable sandals… 

with orthopedic design that take care every kind of foot.  

     We need €10,000 to start production and launch our brand to the market.

     Because comfortably isn´t quarreled with practicality.

Susana Campos

My experience about my visit to Cartagena de Indias

Ten years ago, I went for the first time to Colombia, I went with colleagues for work in a course, without knowing much about the country I discovered wonderful places with very warm and friendly people. Cartagena de Indias is an amazing and wonderful city, very similar to Merida with a beautiful jetty. It was an amazing experience at the professional level but also on a personal level, I met wonderful people to give me their friendship even today. It is a cultural city but also very fun and partying, where you can perform a variety of activities for every taste.

ABOUT TRIPS

 MY FIRST TRIP "ALONE"

By Diana vera

In this ocassion I want to talk you about the first trip in my life. This was when I was 10 years old, my aunt Pilar invited me to go to Cozumel with her, because she live there but the special in this trip was that I went without my parents. At the first it sounds very fine and exciting because I want to do things of the people older than me. I accepted to go with my aunt, she invited to my cousin Evelia too and we started the adverture. That trip was really really fun because my aunt is very spontaneous and she invented a lot of things to do. I remember that in the first day of the trip my aunt carrying us to Chankanap that is a place where you can swimimg in the little lagune and be in contac to the natural and beautiful scenary I liked it very much!!

I don´t remember much about this but I have a memory that I won´t forget it, do you ask you which one is?? My aunt plained to carry us (my cousin Evelia and me) to the shelter port to see the pirates ships but when we were going there started to rain and we had to protect us under a tree and we didn´t arrive another thing that I won´t forget it that my aunt gave us for lunch chips!!

To finish I can say that I enjoyed  very much my first trip “alone”.

A BUSINESS IDEA

SPA AT HOME

By Diana Vera

I have a great business idea this is about an “Spa At Home” here our customers can have facials, stress massages, and differents beauty treatments in their own houses, the Company will have an office, a line call and a website where the customers can make their appointments by phone or internet. Our physiotherapists and beauticians will be in the office waiting to be required.

This is a good idea because the most of the people don´t have time and they can´t go to spas for rest or relaxing so the Company carry the services to home that is the different in our proposal.

I want to earn the money because i need it to open the office and to buy the tools for the treatments, the massages bed and a car to move us the home in home bringing beauty, relaxing and rest to our customers

My beautiful trip to chiapas!

Well, i went to chiapas when i was a child about 7 years ago. I went with my family and other persons by bus, was an amazing experience because we visited a lot of beautiful places, like the canyon sump(cañon del sumidero), the waterfalls of agua azul, chiflon and the ''Sima de las golondrinas'' in that place we needed to walk a lot of kilometers to get there, was very tired but it was worth it. I would like to go again, maybe in a future.

My business idea (Searching artists)

Teacher sorry for not send before my homework, i had problems with the internet.


If you have talent to create logos of pizza, sodas, clothes etc. This is your chance to do it!
Make your drawings about the logos and contact us!
The winner will have his own job in our big company and will win $10,000!
We plan is to find artists who want to be known for his art, our idea is to improve the culture and give a chance to make society see that artists could have a greater opportunity to work and make some money.
Our business will be different because is not common give a chance to the artists to work in big companies.

A beautiful place in Germany

A BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN GERMANY

Twelve years ago I was starting the design of a new program of studies related with the agriculture: Agroecology. In that time UADY signed an agreement with University of Kassel, in Germany; the professors of that University could help us to construct the new courses. A first action was a meeting at Wittzenhaussen, at Germany, where the Faculty of Agronomy of Kassel was established. I traveled with other teachers of UADY in December of 2002.

When we were arriving to Germany the first thing I felt was the cold weather: -12^oC. But that was not problem for me, because I enjoyed it. I believe I am a reincarnation of polar bear. The town of Wittzenhaussen, a beautiful site, was covered by snow. It was an amazing landscape. When I was viewing the white scenario I remembered the tales of Christmas that my mother told me when I was a child in Mexico City. ¡That site was the same she described me.

In addition, the people of Kassel University was very kindly. Several students learned Spanish in different countries: Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and they had the accent of each site. It was very funny.

¡Really, really was a marvelous experience¡ I expect to return to Wittzenhausen as soon as possible.

My trip in Monterrey

I went to Monterrey four years ago with my brother and all my friends. That city is bigger than Mérida so we did something different everyday.  I could meet new people and spend  time speaking with them. We went to the Fundidora park to learn all about Monterrey's metallurgical industries. Also we bought many books, they were less expensive than in Mérida. But The best place was "El cerro de la silla" because we could see the city from the top of the mountain. 

At night we usedto eat at friend's home because  the narcotraffic situation scared us but  it was fun because we could see movies or speak about rock music. After a week we go back home, but I would love to go back to Monterrey one day.

BUSINESS IDEA

Shrimps produced with techniques environmentally correct and socially just

This project aims to change the process which the shrimp are obtained by coastal fishermen of the coast of Yucatan, especially the 20 families at Cooperative Celestun Reserve, for consumption and sale in restaurants. The business idea is different because the project includes the use of sustainable culture techniques and the use of renewable energy and recycling nutrients from the ponds, reducing water consumption. The people obtains a model of continuous production in the year through the sustainable shrimp production selling, shrimps produced environmentally correct and socially just. We need the money for buying the equipment and to train the people.

How I met my husband.

I met my husband in 2001, at the Faculty of Psychology at the UADY, but I started talking to him until three years later and at the beginning we were only colleagues and friends while we had a relationship with other people. Five years later, in 2009 we met again because we both were working in the eastern part of the state. We started dating in 2011, when I arrived in Merida and he went to Teabo.  In 2012, we got married. Now, we see each other every day in the evening because we both work all day. He is the most important person to me because he is my best friend and we try do things together like visiting our family and friends and going to the movies, taking vacation or watching Game of Thrones

WEIRD OR WONDERFUL?

Here is a video that presents a story which shows how someone's life can change from being weird into a wonderful discovery. Watch it and describe the events that you think are weird and the ones you think are wonderful. Here is the link to the video. Enjoy it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_MCwlY6zzg

My business idea

We plan to open a shop where we sell biodegradable disposable products. Our idea is manufacture dishes and cups that look like dishes gourmet for very important events. This is thinking in the people that is tired of the tipical plats disposable, ugly and without desing, also care the enviromental.

Our business will be diferent because we will make alegant dishes and enviromental friendly because the material will be fact of banana fiber and 100% biodegradable. 

We need €10,000 to start the manufacture of products and open the shop.

we plan is ...

we plan is start a project called drop, our idea is create a waterproof of roof be of pvc material. our project is very innovative because the material is recycled and is 500 more during that the conventional waterproof. we need the money for start the business and open the industry. this project going to the future of the construction and the recycled.

A healthy business

Mixed colors food, a healthy choice.

We want to establish a healthy food shop. The name will be: “Mixed colors food”. The idea is to offer meals whit vegetables, legumes, white and fish meat, fruits, etc., all of them in diverse mixes to wake up the senses: vision, smell and taste.  Our business will be different because we will use local plants to prepare the dinners, especially those from traditional agriculture, cultivated for mayan peasants in their own farms, without pesticides or inorganic fertilizers. Farmers will be associated with us as partners and they will receive fair benefits. We plan sale dinners in the own shop and by internet We need $10,000 to acquire the equipment of the kitchen and to start the cultivation of plants.

Arturo Caamal.
Preintermediate Group. Level 4.

My idea of business

The art also exported

My plan is to start a business of handmade bags called “Craftsman’s house”, the idea is employ craftsmen of the state to showcase their talents and placing bags in malls of Merida city, and then start to export the yucatecan art to other countries and make that the craftsmen´s work can be shown to around the world.

My business will be different because the idea is who the craftsmen can to work in their own home, develop their ideas and they may earn more money for their talent and the amount of bags that make.

We need € 10,000 to invest in equipment and put warehouse to carry out the work of packaging and also to start exporting.

My Business Idea

A very profitable business logistics

I have a excellent business plan, my idea is to open a freight company called “Global Transport logistic S.A. de C.V”, the scope of this project would be the Peninsula of Yucatán, taking in consideration that the state of  Yucatán is located in a strategic point to move cargo and the port of Progreso is the best place to start. Global Transport Logistic, S.A. de C.V. would have all the advantages to position itself as one of  the best companies in the world, that is, the company would became a very profitable business with high quality standards to leave satisfied our customers.

My idea is different because will be an administration with a compromise to encourage the development of Yucatán how a logistic platform while we can get very high profit margins.

 This plan is supported by well-founded studies. I need help of investors to buy a small fleet of trailers but I can give the assurance and security that this investment will be recovered soon with an excellent rate of return.

Business idea

I plan to open a musical studio called "Oveja negra". My idea is to record music of Yucatan's local bands. Also, I want to produce rock shows around of the state. "Oveja negra" will be different because it will support new bands, so, it's going to make spaces to people with fresh ideas.

The problem is that I need "20,000 pesos to buy amplifiers, but my friends can help me, they are thinking to invest money. 

We hope to make money by sold tickets and musical recording fees. 

THE ART ALSO EXPORTED

              Mi plan es comenzar una industria de bolsos hechos a mano llamados "ARTESANAL MANO" , la idea es emplear artesanos del estado para mostrar su talento y bolsas de colocación en los centros comerciales de la ciudad de Mérida, y luego principio a exportar el arte yucateco a otros países y hacer que el trabajo del artesano se puede demostrar que en todo el mundo. 

                Mi negocio va a ser diferente porque la idea es que los artesanos pueden trabajar en su propia casa, a desarrollar su creatividad y que pueden ganar más dinero por su talento y la cantidad de bolsas que hacen.

                 Necesito € 10.000 para invertir en equipos, poner un almacén para llevar a cabo el trabajo de embalaje y también para comenzar a exportar.

Healthier choices, better lives

ARTURO CAAMAL

PREINTERMEDIATE GROUP. LEVEL 4

HEALTHIER CHOICES, BETTER LIVES

One thing that has really changed in my life is my way of eating and my own life style. Seven years ago, in 2007, my weight was 142 kg. I don´t know how I reached that situation, but that was the truth. I decided to lose weight and achieve a healthy body. So I looked for help with experts. Precisely there is a program at UADY for helping their teachers and students to change their habits related with food and exercise: “Nutre y mueve tu vida”  (in Spanish). Before that, I used to eat junk food, in small portions, but very frequently. In addition, I used to drink beers each weekend with my friends. When the medical staff told me how many calories beer has, I understood why my weight reached that high level. I needed to change: less high calorie- content food and beers and more exercise. At first it was difficult because I wasn’t used to buy vegetables frequently but I learned how to mix different types of “good” foods to prepare delicious meals. With exercise I didn´t have problems, because I really enjoy walking on the streets. In the end I achieved a partial victory: my weight is 120 kg, now. The goal is still far, but I know I am in the correct way.

Level 3 Work

As mentioned in class, here is the video about unusual vacations, a business created to satisfy people's fantasies about ideal jobs. Watch the video again and try to catch the most important ideas. You may also want to see two videos on outside jobs posted in September, 2013 archives.

Level 4 Money and more..

Today in class we were talking about how some people have become successful entrepreneurs, that is, people who have started their own business in the internet. We talked about Google founders and here are the links to the full BBC Programme "The World According Google":

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW9v9jzealM

Part 2:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVqMJllyBjQ

Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lagGJAiPOgM

You might also be interested in watching two videos about outside jobs. Look for them in the September 2013 archives.

I look forward to read your posts!

My New Experience

One thing that has really changed in my life, is my insecurity with the people. I decided know more people. So that, when I started the University and I didn´t met nobody, I started to talk with strange people for me. Before that, I used to be very quiet and lonely.

At first, I was difficult because I was very nervous, But I met new people and made new friends. In the end one of the girls that I met that day, became to be a of the my best friends.

by Isaac Loeza Alcocer

One thing that has really changed in my life ...
Is when i went in to preparatory, it changed my form of study. I decided study very hard all days. So that sleep a few hours before that reproved the gree. At first was very difficult because was boring but accustomed me (:

When I moved to Mérida

 by Maria Antonia Aguilar Ramírez

One thing that has really changed in my life is when I moved to Mérida in August 2010 to go to the university. I was excited because there was a new experience. But it wasn´t good, my mother and me didn´t have a house and my father was living in a small town named Buctzots, near the city. First week, we were alone because my father returned to his work, we didn´t know anyone and all things were different, Mérida was bigger than Celaya, people speak strange, spicy food didn´t like us and we missed my brothers.
Fortunately, a father´s friend lent us his house because he moved two years before and he had on sale. It was a big house and we were just two people, but my father accepted because he wouldn´t pay rent. After two years my mom was looking for a house, and she found one that she likes. She bought a small house north of the city and we moved. This house is the place where I live now.

A too young mom

     One thing that has really changed my life was when my boyfriend graduated. I went to Guadalajara, Jalisco, for the celebration. But I went with Nick, my son. He was just 5 months old and I was 17 years.  This experience was very hard for me, because my mom used to help me taking care of Nicolas. In Guadalajara, I was alone in a different city, with different weather, in a small apartment. I had to go shopping with Nick, I had to go to the laundry, cook baby food… everything by myself as my boyfriend was doing in internship.
     We were very young parents and even nowadays after we’ve got divorced, we have too many challenges relative to our paternhood. 
     This happened 13 years ago. I went through this experience without problems and since then, I am a better mom.

                                                 Susana Campos

One thing that has really changed in my life 2.0

One thing that has really changed in my life is my acttitude and my physical appearance. I decided to change this things but that wasn't easy however it was rewarding. Before that, used to be so skinny and insecure. At first I was short and skinny and I thought that it was never going to change, because of my insecurity. I grew up, and starded to doing exercise. In the end I'm became confident and a papasito sensualón. :) #YOLO

One thing that has really changed in my life

One thing that has really changed in my life

By Diana Anabel Vera Canché

One thing that has really changed in my life was when i became be independent because i missed my mom and her food.
I decided to moved away to my parent´s home because they live in Motul and I work in Mérida so I rented a small apartament here. 
Before that I used to enjoy longs chats whith my mom when I arrived from work and i used to enjoy her food. 
At  first it was so difficult because i didn´t have anything, no fridge, no bed, no tv!!!! and I had to go to the supermarket and buy my own foodstuffs and the worst? cook it!!! 
I didn´t know how to cook and my meals were horribles,  But i wanted be independet.
Now I finally learn to cook and If I don´t want to cook I buy my food cooked or My mom comes once a week to visit me and she cooks for me, i love her!

One thing that has really changed my life Is:

One thing that has really changed my life Is:

When I started the university because I didn’t have money to pay my school expenditures, so I decided to work in a beauty parlor to continue with my career. Before that I used to be very lazy and I hated the housework, however, I always have loved to go to the school, then I didn´t mind to have to work. At first, I was excited because I wanted to know how to make up the girls, make hair styles, etc. but it wasn’t what I expected, I always did pedicure, washed the dishes, swept the floor, etc.  My boss was really nice but I didn’t felt good because she was eating junk food all the time and I started to gain weight so I gave up that job and I started to look for another one. In the end I got a job in my university, in that place I learned many things and I increased my aspirations, I got a scholarship at school and I finished my career without problems,  nowadays I can say that it was the best job that I have had.

Cute experiences

The thing that has changed my life when i was studying in the high school and the last day was very complicated to me because i had so much friends there and my boyfriend too, In the last day i was in the cafeteria with all my friends talking about those 3 years of class, i felt very sad so i started to cry. then my friends started to hug me. I met a lot of people and friends and they helped me when i had some problems with my homework and i helped them too. In the end my friends and i did a party and that was the goodbye.

One thing that has really changed in my life is:

One thing that has really changed in my life is:

When I went for the first time to Brazil, I felt very nervous but I decided to enjoy and take advantage. I had problems with a communication, because I didn´t speak Portuguese. So that I tried to learn the language for all the available means. Before that, my only knowledge of the Brazilian culture are by the soccer, specifically by Pelé. I used to listen music, and so I listened very much Brazilian music. When I left Brazil the first thing that I did was take a course of Portuguese. In the end I think I learned the language, because I got to write my dissertation totally in Portuguese.

Manuel A. Valenzuela J.

My new experience.

One thing that has really changed in my life is my work. One year ago I decided to look for a job. So I left my C.V. in schools and colleges because I wanted to be a professor. Before that, I used to think that it would be easy, I was wrong. At first, the students thought the history class was boring because they hated reading. So, I showed them documentaries and movies about Mexican history to motivate them. They liked it. Now they want to learn more, so my students look for books to read and know new things about their own country. In the end they think: "History can be more interesting".

Level 4 - Invitation to post your articles

I hope everyone received the invitation to post your blog articles. Don't forget it is important you revise them, correct them and post them. In the invitation you must get a link to access the page. I hope to see all your works published!

Unit 7 - Additional Activities

To have some extra practice on Unit 7 in which we learned about changes, here is a link to an interesting article about the happiest place on Earth:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/5172254.stm

Also watch the following video which provides information about Butan, also considered the happiest country on Earth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivomu5DJvqQ

How to Learn Vocabulary

I think that one of the most useful tools to become a competent user of a foreign language is a wide vocabulary. Vocabulary learning is not only about words, it is also about the correct way to use the words, it involves semantics (meaning) and also syntax (correct combination of words). As we learn vocabulary, we are also learning which word is a verb, a noun, an adjective, an adverb, etc.

As I mentioned in class, it is a good idea to create a vocabulary log, or diary, to note all the new words you learn, what you think they mean, the actual meaning from an English-English Dictionary, other word forms, possible use in a sentence, synonyms, antonym, play with the word, etc.

Here is also a link to an article which I found and I think could be very useful for you. 

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/vocabulary_tips.htm

Have fun with words!

Past Tense - Regular and Irregular Verbs / English Pronunciation

Past Tense - Regular and Irregular verbs

Hi everyone!
The simple past tense in English refers to completed actions. We use the simple past with time expressions such as yesterday, a minute ago, last week, in 1930, etc.

The regular verbs in English are those formed by adding "ed" or "d" to the base form of the verb. When verbs end in CONSONANT + "Y", it is necessary to drop the "Y", change it to "I" and add "ed", for example: carry - carried. However, if a verb ends in VOWEL + "Y", you only add "ed" like in the verb "play" which becomes played in the past. Here is a link where you can find a Word document with a list of regular verbs.
 cefire.edu.gva.es/mod/resource/view.php?id...
 
Another important thing you have to consider when learning about regular verbs is the pronunciation of the final "ed". When a verb ends in a "t" or a "d" sound, the final "ed" is pronounced as a separate syllable, for example: start - start-ed, accept - accept-ed, while arrive - arrived  (ə-rīvd′).
 
You also NEED to learn the irregular verbs, here is a link for you to practice:

http://www.englishpage.com/irregularverbs/irregularverbs.html

This link has a list of irregular verbs in alphabetical order, flashcards for study and practice and excersises.

You may also want to try this game. You can either play alone or with a partner.

http://www.quia.com/cb/8111.html

Pronunciation 
It is important to get familiar with the Phonetic Alphabet. You can find it in the Active Disc included at the end of your book.

Here is an excellent free resource where you can check the meaning of words as well as their pronunciation. It will be of great help to start using it:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

If you are interested in learning more about the Phonetic Alphabet, try this link which will provide you with more useful information:

http://www.antimoon.com/how/pronunc-soundsipa.htm

Here is a very useful video which explains in an easy and clear way how the English alphabet has different sounds. The title is "Why are phonetics important?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhIUePCepL8

Finally, here is a page by the BBC which I think is great, visit it, 

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/

Good luck during this course and don't forget that hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard!

On Education....What about learning without computers?

I mentioned to you in class about an article I read which describes a school in Sillicon Valley where children learn without computers..."teaching philosophy focused on physical activity and learning through creative, hands-on tasks. Those who endorse this approach say computers inhibit creative thinking, movement, human interaction and attention spans."

I invite you to read this very interesting article and to post your opinion after you read it. I hope you find it as interesting as I did!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/technology/at-waldorf-school-in-silicon-valley-technology-can-wait.html?_r=0