Welcome back!

Hello again! I haven't been on here for a while. Like many blogs this one has fallen into the abyss of non-used blogs.

What have you been up to? I hope you are all well and the coronavirus, lockdown and social distancing haven't been too drastic for you.

What have I been up to? Well, I've been working on a new Young English Schools Youtube Channel which you can watch and subscribe to here:

I've also begun teaching online English lessons using Zoom which is actually pretty great. Here are my current lesson prices:

Feel free to contact me by calling/texting 0789 9718 775 or emailing me at chris@youngenglishschools.co.uk to set up an absolutely free demo lesson and level check :)

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Last UK Guantanamo Bay Detainee Comes Home

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34675324

In October 2015, after 13 years, Shaker Aamer finally came home to the UK.

1. What do you know about Guantanamo?

2. Where is it and what kind of people are kept there?

3. Look at the picture. Describe Shaker.

New Vocabulary

detainee (n)   interrogation (n)  torture (n)

resilient (adj)  condone (v)  find one's feet  jihadist (adj)

allegations (n)  an ordeal (n)  to be charged (v)  to be tried (v)

Now watch the video and answer the question:

1. What's the video about?

Watch again and answer the following questions:

1. How many years was he held?

2. When was his son born?

3. Who campaigned for his release?

4. Had he been found guilty of any crimes?

5. When and why did he go to Afghanistan?

6. How was he captured?

7. What happened to him in Afghanistan?

8. What did the documents claim?

9. Why is what happened to him embarrassing politically?

10. Will his return be the end of his ordeal?

11. What does he say he needs to do when he gets back?

Discussion / Writing Ideas:

1. Write/say an example sentence with each of the new words.

2. What are your opinions about Guantanamo Bay? Do you think it is/was a necessary evil?

Don't forget to leave a comment and write up any new words in your vocabulary notebooks! :)

1st & 2nd Conditionals

Here's a video I made recently to help students practice 1st and 2nd Conditionals with If. 

EG. 1st Conditional : "If it rains tomorrow, I will buy an umbrella."

2nd Conditional : "If I were rich, I would buy a new house."

The more you practice making sentences in your head or speaking them out loud, or writing them down, the better your English will become :)

After watching the video, try to make some conditional sentences and write them in the comments below. If I, or maybe if other students/teachers, have time I / we'll check them for you :)