Fun history lessons

Fun history lessons, presented by Horrible Histories' Greg Jenner. Full of facts and jokes, the series brings to life a broad range of historical topics.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000hmmf/episodes/downloads

The Tales of Beatrix Potter

A selection of Beatrix Potter’s best-loved tales are brought to life  by an all-star cast, including Jim Broadbent, Sally Hawkins, Miranda Richardson and Alison Steadman.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/english-ks1--ks2-tales-of-beatrix-potter-home/zv78f4j

JK Rowling serialises the fairy tale The Ickabog, so children in lockdown can read it for free before it is published in November

https://www.theickabog.com/home/

B2.1 Modality II

Mixed modals: https://agendaweb.org/verbs/modals-mixed-3-exercises.html

Deduction about the present: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/intermediate-to-upper-intermediate/modals-

Present and past speculation and deduction: https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b2/speculation-deduction/

B2.1 Comparatives and Superlatives

https://agendaweb.org/grammar/comparatives-intermediate-level-exercises.html Comparative and superative  exercises

https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar/3g33-comparative-superlative-prague.php Comparative and superlative gap fill

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/course/intermediate/unit-13/session-2  Flat pack skyscrapers comparatives and supertatives

C1 Taste

Banksy has created a piece called Game Changer that has gone on display, nicely framed, in a corridor at Southampton general hospital.

Banksy left a note for hospital workers, saying: “Thanks for all you’re doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it’s only black and white.”

Art expressions:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lOk2cb1xII

25 Clothes Idioms:
https://owlcation.com/academia/25-Clothes-Idioms-Explained-to-English-as-a-Second-Language-Learners

6 trends that changed the fashion world
 https://www.bustle.com/articles/112212-6-trends-that-changed-the-fashion-world-for-the-better-photos

The real cost of  fast fashion:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5NmCG5Rvvn46vFB0cMV1fPZ/what-s-the-real-cost-of-fast-fashion-and-do-we-even-care

Coronavirus: Why the fashion industry faces an 'existential crisis':

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-5239450

Turning Tesco Everyday Value into fashion

https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/29090/1/bethany-williams-is-boosting-fashion-s-eco-credentials

Can fashion have a social purpose?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6jHN1QG1xg

Influencer marketing: A ‘renewed spirit’ in the age of Corona:

https://www.sportswear-international.com/news/stories/Online-Marketing-Influencer-marketing-a-renewed-spirit-in-the-age-of-Corona-15334

The world’s most beautiful house:
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20170522-the-worlds-most-beautiful-house?referer=http%3A%2F%2Feeooiiblog.blogspot.com%2F2019%2F04%2F

Arata Isozaki, Whose Hybrid Style Forged 'New Paths,' Wins Pritzker Prize:
https://www.npr.org/2019/03/05/700044095/arata-isozaki-whose-hybrid-style-forged-new-paths-wins-pritzker-prize

House Idioms:
https://www.english-at-home.com/idioms/house-idioms/

From the Eden Project to The Dome and beyond:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000fp4q

Coronavirus street art:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2020/apr/06/coronavirus-street-art-in-picture

New Banksy piece celebrates superhero health workers:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/may/06/banksy-artwork-superhero-nurse-nhs-coronavirus-covid-19-southampton-general-hospital

 ‘It is a different world’: Damien Hirst takes to lockdown life and work:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/may/18/different-world-damien-hirst-lockdown-life-and-work-rainbow-prints

B2.1 Prefixes

https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/vocabulary/3v27-prefixes.php

https://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-5593.php 

B2.1 Real and unreal conditionals

Zero conditionals: https://agendaweb.org/verbs/conditional-verbs-exercises.html

First conditionals:https://agendaweb.org/verbs/conditional-first-exercises.html

Second conditionals: https://agendaweb.org/verbs/conditional-second-exercises.html

C1 Celebrating Book Day

https://www.thinglink.com/card/891286582256992257 British Writers Interactive map

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/apr/16/visitbritain-sorry-for-literary-map-ignoring-wales-and-scotland.  Sorry, we ignored you

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/spain/articles/the-voice-of-spain-10-of-the-best-contemporary-spanish-authors/ 10 of the Best Contemporary Spanish Authors

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p067ggvt An Interview with Antonio Muñoz Molina

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NHNhfUbxvE An Interview with Carlon Ruiz Zafón

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jun/21/carlos-ruiz-zafon-obituary  Carlos Ruiz Zafón obituary

https://thesyp.org.uk/blog/2017/07/31/10-contemporary-scottish-writers-you-should-have-read/ 10 Contemporary Scottish Writers you Should have Read

https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-authors-from-wales/reference  Famous Welsh Authors

B2.1 Celebrating Book Day

https://www.thinglink.com/card/891286582256992257 British Writers Interactive Map

B2.1 Writing a formal letter or email

https://www.ielts-exam.net/general_writing_samples_task_1/1026/ Useful language

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/upper-intermediate-b2-writing/more-formal-email Formal Email Example

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/business-english/english-for-emails/unit-4-starting-and-finishing-emails Writing a Formal and Informal Email

C1 Live and Learn

"Never let success get to your head and never let failure get to your heart."—Ziad K. Abdelnour

https://wabisabilearning.com/blogs/mindfulness-wellbeing/10-powerful-motivational-quotes-for-supercharging-lifelong-learning 10 Powerful Motivational Quotes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFKQ6lW7rt0 Praise Effort, Not Intelligence

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/growing-friendships/201812/what-we-get-wrong-about-children-s-self-esteem What We Get Wrong about Children's Self-Esteem

https://www.ted.com/talks/julie_lythcott_haims_how_to_raise_successful_kids_without_over_parenting#t-311376 How to Raise successful kids -without over-parenting

https://www.rwapsych.com.au/blog/effects-of-overparenting-are-we-raising-anxious-children/ 

Effects Of Overparenting Are We Raising Anxious Children

https://theconversation.com/bulldozer-parents-creating-psychologically-fragile-children-32730 Bulldozer parents: creating psychologically fragile children

https://www.newtimes.co.rw/lifestyle/significance-discipline-schools The significance of discipline in school

https://wabisabilearning.com/blogs/critical-thinking/the-importance-of-teaching-critical-thinking

The Importance of Teaching Critical Thinking

https://wabisabilearning.com/blogs/literacy-numeracy/skills-every-student-needs

The Critical 21st Century Skills Every Student Needs and Why

https://agendaweb.org/verbs/passive-voice-advanced-exercises.html PASSIVE VOICE PRACTICE

https://www.economist.com/international/2020/04/27/closing-schools-for-covid-19-does-lifelong-harm-and-widens-inequality?fsrc=newsletter&utm_campaign=the-economist-today&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=salesforce-marketing-cloud&utm_term=2020-04-28&utm_content=article-link-1  The Economist Closing schools for covid-19 does lifelong harm and widens inequality

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000h93c/episodes/player BBC Radio 4 The Learning Revolution 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000k2tv BBC radio 4 Modern parenting

C1 Writing a proposal

https://www.rubenvalero.com/learningenglish/c1-advanced-cae/writing-cae-c1/cae-proposal/

C1 Idioms

A piece of cake, in a nutshell, cherry on the cake, bald as a coot, a  screw loose, stiff upper lip, born with a silver spoon in your mouth, ear worm, keep your cards close to your chest, joker in the pack, ace up your sleeve, heart on your sleeve, on a silver platter, spill the beans, big cheese, red herring, tie the knot, put all your eggs in one basket, walking on egg shells, shadow of your former self, no room to swing a cat, the cat 's got your tongue, kick the bucket, pull your socks up, cold feet, from rags to riches and time flies.


How many idioms can you find? Please leave your answers in the comments section.

B2.1 Questions

https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar/3g26-subject-object-questions.php Subject and Object Questions

https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/subject-questions-exercise-1.html Subject and Objects Questions

https://www.english-at-home.com/lessons/grammar-exercise-indirect-questions-at-work/ Indirect Questions

https://agendaweb.org/grammar/questions-interrogatives-words.html Indirect Questions

B2.1 Used to and Would

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWuFkCPb9oE Video: used to and would

https://agendaweb.org/verbs/to-be-used-to.html used to and would practice

C1 Bell ringing and global greening: What is happening for St Patrick’s Day?

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/bell-ringing-and-global-greening-what-is-happening-for-st-patrick-s-day-1.4204572 

Read the article about the best ways to celebrate St Patrick's this year and post your views.

B2.1 Present perfect simple & continuous

https://agendaweb.org/verbs/present_perfect_continuous-exercises.html

B2.1 Relative clauses

https://agendaweb.org/grammar/relative-clauses-exercises.html

C1 How we come across

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/03/elbow-bumps-and-footshakes-the-new-coronavirus-etiquette The Guardian. The New Conronavirus Etiquette

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p004y29m BBC Politeness

https://www.npr.org/2014/07/01/327248376/kids-dealing-with-negative-body-image-dont-judge-listen NPR Kids Dealing With Negative Body Image?

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/31/safety-blanket-why-more-teenagers-relying-life-coaches The Guardian ‘It’s a safety blanket’: why more and more teenagers are relying on life coaches

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=461213445558831148#editor/target=post;postID=3361298905948826671;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=2;src=link  Why Confidence Is One of The Most Important Traits to Our Evolution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2MR5XbJtXU  TED  The surprising secret to speaking with confidence

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/interview-questions-about-when-your-boss-is-wrong-2061297  How to Answer Interview Questions About When Your Boss Is Wrong

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000g44n Body Horror, Episode 1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000gt7j The Ugly Truth

C1 Writing a formal letter or email

Formal letters may be written to an individual or to an organisation. The purpose may be, for example,

• to apply for part-time or vacation work (application letter)
• to apply for study or scholarship opportunity (application letter)
• to complain about something (complaint letter)
• to make suggestions about something 
• to request information (enquiry letter)

https://www.rubenvalero.com/learningenglish/c1-advanced-cae/writing-cae-c1/cae-formal-letter-or-email/ Formal letter/email

https://www.scribendi.com/advice/how_to_write_a_letter_of_complaint.en.html How to Write a Letter of Complaint 

B2.1 Linkers

https://www.english-grammar.at/online_exercises/connectives/connectives-index.htm

C1 Things to come

https://www.npr.org/2020/01/14/796427696/study-grindr-tindr-and-other-apps-share-sensitive-personal-data-with-advertisers  NPR Study: Tinder, Grindr And Other Apps Share Sensitive Personal Data With Advertisers

https://www.npr.org/2020/01/22/798126153/exclusive-seattle-area-voters-to-vote-by-smartphone-in-1st-for-u-s-elections  Exclusive: Seattle-Area Voters To Vote By Smartphone In 1st For U.S. Elections

 https://www.npr.org/2020/01/16/796786350/pigeonbot-brings-robots-closer-to-bird-like-flight  'PigeonBot' Brings Robots Closer To Birdlike Flight'

https://www.npr.org/2020/01/27/799402801/canada-wins-u-s-loses-in-global-fight-for-high-tech-workers   Canada Wins, U.S. Loses In Global Fight For High-Tech Workers

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/mar/02/apps-that-track-babies-and-give-data-to-tech-firms-parents 'You can track everything': the parents who digitalise their babies' lives

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2011/dec/02/psychology-human-biology Know thyself: Quantified Self devotees who live by numbers

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180822-this-jordan-greenhouse-uses-solar-power-to-grow-crops How to use seawater to grow food in the dessert

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000dyc2 The NHS, AI and Our Data (for class debate)

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/google-apple-amazon-nhs-health-data  Everyone should be worried by big tech's huge NHS data grab (for class debate)

https://www.npr.org/2020/02/18/805291279/losing-sleep-over-the-quest-for-a-perfect-nights-rest  NPR Sleep trackers can make it harder to fall asleep

https://www.npr.org/2020/02/07/803145517/from-delivery-trucks-to-scooter-moving-vans-fleets-are-going-electric NPR From delivery trucks to scooter-moving vans, fleets are going electric
https://nesslabs.com/jomo From FOMO to JOMO 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08h7tg6  The 5G con that could make you sick

B2.1 Ing and to infinitive

https://agendaweb.org/verbs/infinitives-gerunds-grammar Infinitive or gerund?

C1 Unit 4 Fit as a fiddle

https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/fiddle FIDDLE- IDIOMS

https://english.best/tests/comparisons-with-as-as/  COMPARISON WITH AS .... AS

https://www.npr.org/2017/01/08/508765671/what-doesnt-kill-us-invites-practical-medical-benefits "WHAT DOESN'T KILL US", BY SCOTT  CARNEY

https://www.ihbristol.com/useful-english-expressions USUFUL EXPRESSIONS

https://www.npr.org/sections/fitness-nutrition/ FITNESS & NUTRITUTION

https://www.nhs.uk/news/ BEHIND THE HEADLINES - NHS

https://www.who.int/  WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mdl65 BBC Radio 4  Cosmetic Surgery. Following the PIP breast implants scandals, has the cosmetic surgery industry cleaned up its up?

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/01/11/795010044/feeling-artsy-heres-how-making-art-helps-your-brain  NPR Feeling Artsy? Here's How Making Art Helps Your Brain

https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/joy-missing-out-finding-balance-wired-world  "The Joy of Missing Out: Finding Balance in a Wired World"

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-54311-x NATURE-  Light therapy with boxes or glasses to counteract effects of acute sleep deprivation

B2.1 Listening practice

https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/listening-intermediate.php listenings

https://www.ihbristol.com/useful-english-expressions Useful Expressions

C1 Summarasing statistics

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/advanced-c1/describing-a-table