Monday, 1 September 2025

6.2.3. Verbs followed by verbs in gerund or infintive with different meanings


Oral Review of Exercise 2 on page 50


6.2.3. Verbs followed by verbs in gerund or infinitive with different meanings


Introductory Review Exercise:

https://www.liveworksheets.com/worksheet/en/english-language/484939 




A Night at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid

 

Last summer, I visited the Reina Sofia museum in Madrid, famous for housing Picasso’s Guernica. At first, I thought the evening would simply mean admiring a few masterpieces before dinner, but it actually meant to provoke deep reflection on war, memory, and social change.

 

In the first gallery, I decided to try engaging with the artworks by sketching fragments of Guernica in my notebook. This experiment contrasted with the challenge of later having to try to explain my impressions to a Spanish visitor. That attempt was far more demanding than sketching in silence.

 

Midway through the visit, I realized I had forgotten bringing my camera. Surprisingly, this made me more attentive. Soon after, the guide reminded us to remember to take out our phones to scan the QR code for the interactive commentary.


Later, I paused before a haunting installation about exile and dictatorship. I couldn’t help but regret not staying longer in front of it, since the atmosphere was overwhelming yet enlightening. However, I did not regret to say that the museum achieved its goal of unsettling its audience and reminding us of Spain’s turbulent past.

 

As the lights dimmed in the gallery, some visitors stopped to take one final picture, while others stopped looking and simply closed their eyes to reflect. Both gestures captured the essence of art appreciation at the Reina Sofia museum: sometimes pausing for action, other times letting go.

 

Reading Comprehension Exercise:

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/lzMso95S2Br


6.2.3. Verbs followed by verbs in gerund or infintive with different meanings











Teamwork Exercise 3 on page 50


Individual Online Exercise about the Verbs followed by -ing or to infinitive with Different Meaning

Speaking cards of verbs followed by gerund and/or
infinitive

6.2.2. Verbs followed by gerund or infinitive in the context of arts



6.2.2. Verbs followed by gerund or infinitive in the context of arts


Exercise 1 on page 50



Video quiz:

Taking a Guided Tour at the British Museum in London

 

Visiting London often means taking time to explore its most famous cultural landmark: the British Museum. Many travellers even practise imagining what it will be like before they arrive, visualising the grand halls and legendary artifacts they have only read about in books.

 

When the day comes, few people would ever refuse to join a guided tour. The guides not only share historical facts but also let someone ask questions freely, making the experience more personal and engaging. With their explanations, it soon becomes clear that it isn’t worth hurrying through the galleries, because each exhibit deserves time and attention.

 

The sheer variety of objects on display—from ancient Egyptian mummies to Greek sculptures—can inspire someone to learn more about different civilizations and cultures. Sometimes, enthusiastic visitors pretend to be archaeologists as they take notes or snap photos. On one occasion, I even spotted someone sketching the Rosetta Stone, lost in concentration as if capturing a piece of history on paper.

 

Ultimately, the tour enables someone to connect deeply with world heritage in a way that goes beyond simply reading about it. A guided visit at the British Museum is more than sightseeing; it is an educational and emotional journey that stays with you long after you leave its majestic halls.

 

Reading Comprehension Exercise of the text Guided Tour at the British Museum:

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/cB3nmGQxKy-


Exercise 2 on page 50



Thursday, 21 August 2025

6.1. Art and intesifying adverbs



 Art and Intensifying adverbs




Inroductory Listening Exercise

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/IFb9aB8vjQq


C1-level Intensifying Adverbs

 

Intensifying adverbs strengthen (or occasionally weaken) the meaning of an adjective, verb, or another adverb. They add emphasis, highlight emotional depth, or show the degree of intensity. They’re not always interchangeable—some strongly prefer certain collocations.

 

Explanation by Adverb

1. Absolutely

  • Use: To emphasize totality or strong agreement.
  • Collocations: absolutely essential, absolutely certain, absolutely fantastic, absolutely impossible.
  • Example: The view from the top was absolutely stunning.

2. Completely

  • Use: To show that something is whole or entire, without exception.
  • Collocations: completely wrong, completely different, completely empty.
  • Example: I felt completely exhausted after the meeting.

3. Deeply

  • Use: To express strong feelings, emotions, or states of mind.
  • Collocations: deeply concerned, deeply sorry, deeply grateful, deeply moved.
  • Example: She was deeply committed to helping her students.

4. Dreadfully

  • Use: (slightly old-fashioned in formal English) to mean “very” in a negative sense.
  • Collocations: dreadfully sorry, dreadfully wrong, dreadfully boring.
  • Example: The weather was dreadfully cold that night.

5. Eagerly

  • Use: To show enthusiasm or strong interest (usually modifies verbs).
  • Collocations: eagerly await, eagerly accept, eagerly anticipate.
  • Example: The audience eagerly awaited the band’s arrival.

6. Generally

  • Use: To express something true in most cases, but not always.
  • Collocations: generally speaking, generally accepted, generally true.
  • Example: The students are generally well-prepared for class.

7. Highly

  • Use: To intensify in a positive or evaluative sense, often with participles or adjectives of opinion.
  • Collocations: highly recommended, highly unlikely, highly intelligent, highly effective.
  • Example: This book is highly recommended for exam preparation.

8. Perfectly

  • Use: To mean 'completely' or 'flawless.'
  • Collocations: perfectly clear, perfectly normal, perfectly safe, perfectly reasonable.
  • Example: Your explanation is perfectly understandable.

9. Totally

  • Use: Similar to completely, but often less formal and sometimes used conversationally.
  • Collocations: totally different, totally unexpected, totally agree.
  • Example: I totally forgot about the appointment.

10. Utterly

  • Use: Stronger than completely, often used with negative or extreme adjectives.
  • Collocations: utterly ridiculous, utterly exhausted, utterly alone.
  • Example: The proposal was utterly absurd.

11. Wonderfully

  • Use: To intensify in a very positive sense, with admiration or pleasure.
  • Collocations: wonderfully talented, wonderfully simple, wonderfully kind.
  • Example: The actors gave a wonderfully moving performance.

12. Widely

  • Use: To indicate large extent, coverage, or acceptance.
  • Collocations: widely known, widely used, widely recognized, widely accepted.
  • Example: Her research is widely respected in academic circles.

 

Final Notes:

  • Absolutely / utterly / completely / totally → intensify adjectives that are non-gradable , e.g., perfect, impossible, exhausted.
  • Deeply / dreadfully / wonderfully / highly → usually collocate with emotions, evaluations, or extreme descriptions.
  • Generally / widely → less emotional; they indicate extent or frequency rather than intensity of feeling.
  • Eagerly → stands out because it intensifies verbs (actions) rather than adjectives.

Collaborative Exercise 1 on page 48

Individual Online Exercise of Intensifying Adverbs:

Speaking Practice on page 48


Reading Practice on pages 48 and 49

Teamwork: Describe an artwork on a poster including at least five collocations with intensifying adverbs and using between 70 and 120 words.



Description of Sunflowers

Van Gogh’s Sunflowers is an absolutely iconic painting that captures the vibrancy of nature in a highly distinctive style. The golden tones are absolutely radiant, creating an atmosphere that feels perfectly uplifting yet at the same time deeply emotional. The brushstrokes are completely unconventional, almost wild, which gives the flowers a wonderfully expressive quality. Some critics have called it utterly overrated, but for many art lovers, it remains a widely acclaimed masterpiece that is profoundly inspiring.


Sunday, 3 August 2025

Academic Integrity

 


Video quiz of Academic Integrity (C1 level):


📘 Reading Text (C1 Level): Upholding Lasallian Values in Higher Education

 📘 Reading Text (C1 Level): Upholding Lasallian Values in Higher Education

 

At Universidad La Salle Cancún, education transcends academic achievement; it is fundamentally rooted in a set of values inspired by Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. These Lasallian values—faith, service, fraternity, respect, and commitment—serve as the ethical compass that guides students, educators, and administrators alike.

 

Faith is not limited to religious belief but understood more broadly as trust in oneself, in others, and in the educational process. Students are encouraged to engage in reflective practices and cultivate a sense of purpose that transcends personal ambition.

 

Service, meanwhile, promotes a culture of solidarity and social responsibility. It urges students to use their skills and knowledge not only for personal gain but to uplift their communities. Community service, volunteer projects, and outreach programs are integral parts of the Lasallian educational model.

 

Fraternity fosters a sense of belonging, cooperation, and empathy. Within the classroom, this value is visible in collaborative learning, mutual support, and intercultural respect, especially relevant in a multicultural institution such as La Salle Cancún.

 

Respect, a cornerstone of all human interaction, is practiced not only in interpersonal relationships but also in academic conduct. Students are held to high standards of academic integrity and are expected to appreciate diverse perspectives with openness and humility.

 

Lastly, commitment refers to perseverance and dedication to both personal development and collective goals. Whether in class attendance, punctuality, or participation in institutional initiatives, commitment is the bridge between intention and action.

 

Incorporating these values into university life is not merely aspirational—it is essential. They cultivate socially responsible graduates prepared not only for professional success but also for ethical leadership in an increasingly complex world.


📚 References:

Comité de Misión Educativa Lasallista. (2015). Valores Lasallistas. Instituto de los Hermanos de las Escuelas Cristianas. https://www.lasalle.org.mx

Universidad La Salle Cancún. (2023). Modelo educativo lasallista: Formación integral con valores. https://lasallecancun.edu.mx/modelo-educativo/

Huerta, F. (2021). Identidad Lasallista en la educación superior mexicana. Revista de Educación y Valores, 12(3), 56–68. https://doi.org/10.35622/ev.21.3.4

González, L. (2019). Ethical formation through Lasallian values in university contexts. Journal of Educational Leadership, 7(2), 34–45.

 

Individual Online Exercise:

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/3yq_G0_JZgk

6.2.3. Verbs followed by verbs in gerund or infintive with different meanings

Oral Review of Exercise 2 on page 50 6.2.3. Verbs followed by verbs in gerund or infinitive with different meanings Introductory Review Exer...