General

English Listening Lesson Library Online: http://www.elllo.org/

Randall’s ESL Listening lab: http://esl-lab.com/

La Mansion del Ingles: http://www.mansioningles.com/listening00.htm

Real English: http://www.real-english.com/

Yappr – songs with subtitles:   http://en.yappr.com

Podcasts

English Café Podcasts: http://www.eslpod.com/website/index_new.html

Technology Podcasts: http://twit.tv/ (or search “twit” on iTunes)

La Mansion del Ingles podcasts: http://mansioningles.libsyn.com

(Also search iTunes: “learn English” and listen to different podcasts)

Pronunciation:

Cambridge University Press:

http://www.cambridge.org/elt/resources/skills/interactive/pron_animations/index.htm

Different accents

eViews: http://www.eviews.net/index.html

Speaking Practice on Skype:

Speak English Today: http://www.speak-english-today.com/

News:

BBC World Service News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/

BBC Learning English: http://www.bbc.co.uk/search/news/?q=Learning%20English

Voice of America(VOA): http://www.voanews.com/english/portal.cfm

VOA Special English: http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/

CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/

Breaking News English: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/index.html

YouTube and Video Links

English with Jennifer: http://www.youtube.com/user/JenniferESL/videos

Mister Duncan: http://www.youtube.com/user/duncaninchina?feature=watch

Learn American English Online: http://www.youtube.com/user/learnamericanenglish?blend=1&ob=video-mustangbase

La Mansion del ingles: http://www.youtube.com/user/LaMansionDelIngles?feature=mhee

ESLvideo: http://eslvideo.com/quiz_begin_grammar.php?id=4921&pagenum=1

Videojug: http://www.videojug.com/tag/choosing-a-career

The Daily English Show: http://www.thedailyenglishshow.com/

Englishcentral: http://www.englishcentral.com/videos#/

Exams

Test: 

Cambridge University: http://cambridgeesol.org/testyourenglish/

KET

Exam English: www.examenglish.com/KET/index.php

PET

E-relevant English: www.angelfire.com/on3/esl/archives/PET_exercises.html

FCE 

Flo Joe: www.flo-joe.co.uk

Exam English: http://www.examenglish.com/

Mike Hardinge: http://www.mikehardinge.com/Exercises/Things_for_FCE_or_%20B2.htm

FCE Listening

Exam English: http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fcelistening.htm

The British Council: http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-exams-fce-listening-intro.htm

Help For English: http://www.helpforenglish.cz/certifikaty/fce/c2006081604–e-fce–listening–part-1.html

http://www.helpforenglish.cz/certifikaty/fce/c2006103001–e-fce–listening–part-2.html

http://www.helpforenglish.cz/certifikaty/fce/c2006110101–e-fce–listening–part-3.html

CAE

Flo Joe: www.flo-joe.co.uk

CPE

Flo Joe: www.flo-joe.co.uk

KET:PET;FCE;CAE;CPE

English Online: www.english-online.org.uk/exam.htm

General Learning English Sites:

The Internet TESL Journal: iteslj.org/

English Page: http://www.englishpage.com/index.html

English Club: http://www.englishclub.com/learn-english.htm

British Council Learn English: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/home

Many Things: http://www.manythings.org/

Using English: http://www.usingenglish.com

Saber Inglés: http://www.saberingles.com.ar/ 

Learn English: http://learnenglish.de/

Englisch Hilfen (Germany): http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/

BBC Learning English:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/youmeus/quiznet/archive.shtml

English Exercises: http://www.englishexercises.org/

Isabel’s ESL Site: http://www.isabelperez.com/

Grammar:

Edufind: http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/grammar_topics.php

English Grammar Secrets: http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/

English Learner: http://www.englishlearner.com/tests/index.shtml

English Club: http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/

La Mansion del Ingles: http://www.mansioningles.com/Gramatica.htm

For Children:

The British Council: http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/

English 4 Kids: http://www.english-4kids.com/

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil

1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped

1 large carrot, finely chopped

115g chopped mushrooms

500g minced lamb

1 1/4 cups (300ml) strong meat stock

1 tablespoon (15ml) cornstarch (mixed with a little meat stock)

2-3 tablespoons (10-15ml) Worcestershire Sauce

1 tablespoon (15ml) crushed tomato or tomato purée

675g boiled potatoes

2 tablespoons (25g) butter

3 tablespoons (45g) hot milk

1 tablespoon (15ml) fresh, shopped tarragon (and 1 small sprig for decoration)

salt and black pepper

Help

tablespoon = cucharada

finely chopped = picada fina

minced lamb = carne de cordero picada (si es carne de buey, se convierte en cottage pie).

strong meat stock = caldo de ternera fuerte

cornstarch = harina de trigo

Bay leaf = hoja de laurel

Worcester Sauce = salsa Worcestershire

crushed tomato -= tomato triturado

tarragon = estragón

sprig = ramita

Instructions:

1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and add the carrot, onion and mushrooms. Fry, stirring occasionally, until they turn golden.

2. Add the lamb. Stir and cook until it changes colour.

3. Mix the cornstarch with a little meat stock and add to the pan.

4. Pour in the rest of the stock and bring to a slow boil while constantly stirring.

5. Add the bay leaf and Worcestershire sauce, and crushed tomato. Stir.

6. Cover the pan and simmer on a low heat for 1 hour. Stir occasionally.

7. Uncover for a while (if necessary) to allow any excess water to evaporate. Do not let it boil or stick to the bottom of the pan.

8. Pre-heat the oven to 190º C /gas 5.

9. Boil the potatoes for 2 minutes until soft and mash with butter, milk, salt and pepper.

10. Add the tarragon, salt and pepper to the meat. Stir and empty into a casserole dish ready for the oven.

11. Cover with the mashed potato and make a design on top with a fork.

12. Bake for 25 minutes until brown. Serve hot with a sprig of tarragon on top for decoration.

Help

frying pan = sartén

to fry = freír

to stir = remover

to mix = mezclar

to add = añadir

to pour = echar

to boil = hervir

to simmer = hervir a fuego lento

to cover = tapar, cubrir

to stick = pegar

to mash = hacer puré de, moler

You won’t be surprised to hear that it’s more important than ever to have a good, working knowledge of English, and here at La Mansión del Inglés we are doing our best to help you learn and improve your communications skills and take your English to the next level.

Below, we have put together a list of ways you can study with us and take advantage of the services we offer to help you in your studies.

El Cuaderno Mensual

Our free monthly newsletter (el cuaderno mensual) contains exercises, information, reading practice, podcasts and a wide range of material for different levels, including English for kids and Business English. You can sign up with your email address and also see previous newsletters.

Free Online Courses

Just go to www.mansioningles.com and click on “Cursos de Ingles Multimedia Online‘ (or just click on Big Ben). Do the level test and start studying with the correct course for your level.

There are also many other free resources on the website. Check out the listening section, grammar reference, vocabulary and practice exercises.

Facebook

Facebook is fun! And with around 16,000 fans in our Facebook community, there is always someone around to communicate with, answer your questions and help you with your English. We publish grammar, vocabulary and listening exercises almost every day and there’s a weekly cd competition in which we give away one of our cds to the winner.

Our cds

On our product page you’ll find a selection of cds to help your study program. There are full details of each cd, material content and, for some cds, a download sample so you can see an example of the course and “try before you buy”.

Twitter

Follow us @mansiontwit where we post expressions, idioms, quotes, slang vocabulary and useful links and information for students and teachers.

YouTube

There are currently 22 videos on our YouTube channel and our plans for 2012 include more in the “20 Tips for Learning English” series and instructional videos for the Cambridge CAE and CPE speaking tests.

Applications for mobile phones

Take us with you on your iPhone, iPod or iPad. Search for iMansionauto in iTunes and and download level 1 and level 2, developed by Mobilendo.com

iMansionauto level 1 and level 2 are also available on Windows phone 7 platform.

Learn English Abroad

Eurolingua can help you find the right English course abroad and work with top schools in many countries.

Download Store

Visit our download store where you’ll find e-books for teachers and students and mp3 audio downloads that you can listen to at the gym, in the car, cleaning the house or whenever you have ‘dead time’ during your day.

Chat, Forum and Blog

Don’t forget our English chat and forum and, of course, this blog which will be a lot more active and interactive in the coming year.

With so many ways to come into contact with English, there really is no excuse for you not to take your English to the next level in 2012. We hope you do, and we will be doing everything we can to help you reach your goals and improve your English in the coming year.

Happy New Year! – ¡Feliz año nuevo!

Help

Hit hard = afectado muy gravemente

Worldwide = por todo el mundo

To face = enfrentarse a

Skills = habilidades

To take advantage of = aprovechar

A wide range = una amplia gama

Resources = recursos

To give away = regalar

Try before you buy = probar antes de comprar

Abroad = en el extranjero

Dead time = tiempo muerto

Reach your goals = alcanzar tus objetivos

Download = bajar, descargar

1.

Can you keep an …….. on my bag while I go to the toilet?

The Secretary for Defence has been in the public …….. a lot recently since he came out of the closet and told the media he’s gay.

We need to update our website and we are looking for someone who has an …….. for design. 

2.

A Detroit businessman has agreed to pay for a three-metre high statue in …….. of Michael Jackson.

My laptop is so much faster since I added extra ………

Are you sure we flew to Zanzibar? I have a vivid ………. of us going by boat. 

3.

During the staff meeting I was asked to give my…….. of the new company logo design.

The best thing about my New York apartment was the wonderful …….. of Central Park.

We couldn’t see the stage nor any of the band because our …….. was blocked by the people in front of us.

4.

My mate Juan and his wife have a successful legal …….. in the centre of Valencia.

I haven’t been skiing for years so I’m probably a bit out of ………

I really enjoyed the photography course, but it wasn’t very hands on. I’m looking forward to putting the theory I learnt into ………

5.

Congratulations on the new flat. Are you going to have a flat-warming …….. after you move in?

There are many internal problems within the Conservative ……..  and I honestly don’t think they stand a chance of winning the next election.

The hotel got very busy when a coach …….. of 30 Japenese tourists arrived yesterday afternoon. 

6.

Designing the software from the ground up, and with very little help, gave me a great …….. of achievement.

What’s the …….. of paying a marketing company thousands of euros when we can handle the product marketing ourselves?

He isn’t exactly famous for his  …….. of humour, so don’t go telling any jokes during the interview, will you? 

7.

The bar on the corner is the crime …….. and the police have closed off the whole area. I think they’re dusting for finger prints.

The best part of the film is the last …….. when she cuts off his balls with a large pair of scissors.

Look! Don’t make a  …….., ok? I know we’ve been waiting for over an hour, but it’s a very popular restaurant. 

8.

In the not too …….. future, cars will be automatically controlled by computers and we won’t need to drive them.

Jenny has been so …….. since her husband died. Every time I try to talk to her she seems to be in a world of her own.

When I retire I intend to travel to  …….. countries and learn about a variety of diffent cultures. 

9.

Don’t worry, they’re going to pick us up at the airport and …….. us off at the hotel.

It’s obvious we’re never going to agree on this subject, so why don’t we just …….. it and talk about something else?

The weather was fantastic. Even at night the temperature didn’t  …….. below 20 degrees. 

10.

Before we close the meeting I’d like to raise the …….. of overtime pay.

The media are calling into …….. Government spending on arms contracts, especially when health and education budgets have been cut.

The Minister of Education has said that there is absolutely no …….. of increasing government spending on education until we’re out of the recession. 

11.

It wasn’t my …….. that we missed the flight. It was you who insisted we go to the bar for a couple of beers.

Excuse me, there’s a  …….. with this coffee maker. Can you exchange it for me or give me a refund?

My old boss was always finding …….. with my work. So much so that he actually refused to give me a reference.

Answers:

1. eye

2. memory

3. view

4. practice

5. party

6. sense

7. scene

8. distant

9. drop

10. question

11. fault

Read the lyrics and write the extra word in the box. Be careful because some of the lines do not have extra words.

1. Ah, look at all the lonely people, ah, look at all the lonely people.

2. Eleanor Rigby, picks up from the rice in the church

3. where a wedding has been. Lives in a dream.

4. Waits at the window, wearing the face that she has

5. keeps in a jar by the door, Who is it for?

6. All the lonely people, where do they all come from?

7. All the lonely people, where do they all belong?

8. Father McKenzie, writing the words of a sermon

9. that no one will be hear. No one comes near.

10. Look at him is working, darning his socks in the night

11. when there’s nobody there. What does he care after?

12. All the lonely people, where do they all come from?

13. All the lonely people, where do they all belong?

14. Ah, look at all the lonely people, ah, look at all the lonely people.

15. Eleanor Rigby, died in the church and was being buried

16. along with her name, nobody did came

17. Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt from his hands as he did

18. walks from the grave. No one was saved.

19. All the lonely people, where do they all come from?

20. All the lonely people, where do they all belong?

Listen to the song on YouTube to check.

Click on Read More to check

Answers
1. correct
2. from
3. correct
4. has
5. correct
6. correct
7. correct
8. correct
9. be
10. correct
11. after
12. correct
13. correct
14. correct
15. being
16. did
17. did
18. correct
19. correct
20. correct

Help

jar = taro, bote

to darn = zurcir

to bury = enterrar

to wipe = limpiar

dirt = sucio

grave = tumba