Javier’s English Corner

Yes, that is the English translation for the famous sentence Julius Caesar is reported to have said on January 10, 49 BC as he led his army across the River Rubicon in northern Italy. Ok, OK, it may sound too grandiose just before your final tests you will be taking very soon, but I felt like writing that, what can I say.

Let me tell you it has been my pleasure and privilege to be your teacher this year. I had already had most of you in my class for two years and this adventure of sharing our passion for the English language together has been most exciting, or at least it’s been so for me. As you already know, I’ll be leaving Luarca’s school for a while to sail to rather distant seas. I’ve always been a somewhat wild spirit and it’s time to experience some new adventures, in the Philippines no less. Wish me luck in my new endeavours; I’ll always carry a bit of you all in my heart. OK, I may be getting a trifle sentimental, but that’s me.

By the way, if you fancy a full size version of our picture together, just write to my usual email address. As for this blog, I hope it stays here as a reminder of the things we learnt together. You can always browse our archive to remember all the things we shared.

Bon voyage…

I’ve very recently found out about this amazing website called http://academicearth.org/ , where you can access thousands of video lectures from arguably the world’s top scholars, or at least that’s what they say on their site. Be that as it may, I’m sure you’ll find lots of interesting materials to practise your listening skills while you’re learning something of use.

Just to give you an example, click on the picture below to go to Yale Professor Amy Hungerford’s first lecture on Nabokov’s Lolita. You can also download the lecture transcript.

Here we go again. This is the last sample test we’ve done, and I’m posting everything here so that those of you who were away on your Scottish break can do it now. First of all, click on the exercise link, print a copy and then listen to the recordings three times. After you’ve finished the exercise, click on the tapescript and key link, print another copy and check your score. Good luck!

• Exercise (Sections C and D)

Section C:
Section D:

• Tapescript and key

These sample tests have been taken from CAE Practice Tests 1, reprinted in 1992.