An article for a website

DEVELOPING LISTENING SKILLS

1. These are interesting websites that you can use to improve your ability to understand talks and conversations in English:

http://www.rong-chang.com/qa2/ --- short stories that you can listen to.
http://www.esl-lab.com/ --- audio and quizzes to check how much you understand.
http://www.elllo.org/ --- tracks that include scripts and explanations of expressions.
http://www.audioenglish.net/ --- dialogues, narrations, phrases, pronunciation and role plays.

2. To download podcasts:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts --- to download some radio programs and news, British English.
http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_directory.php --- to download some radio programs and news, American English.
http://www.voicesinthedark.com/content.php?iContent=50 --- to download stories.
https://librivox.org/ --- to download audio books.

3. Pronunciation dictionaries:

http://www.howjsay.com/
http://www.wordreference.com/

4. . Our website: http://www.eoitoledo.edu.es/

European language levels - Self Assessment Grid- B1

Listening:
I can understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. I can understand the main point of many radio or TV programmes on current affairs or topics of personal or professional interest when the delivery is relatively slow and clear.

Reading:
I can understand texts that consist mainly of high frequency everyday or job-related language. I can understand the description of events, feelings and wishes in personal letters.

Spoken Interaction:
I can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. I can enter unprepared into conversation on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life (e.g. family, hobbies, work, travel and current events).

Spoken production:
I can connect phrases in a simple way in order to describe experiences and events, my dreams, hopes and ambitions. I can briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. I can narrate a story or relate the plot of a book or film and describe my reactions.

Writing:
I can write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. I can write personal letters describing experiences and impressions.

Bibliography

Recommended Bibliography for B1

DICTIONARIES

- Oxford Pocket Dictionary (bilingual)
- Cambridge Word Selector (bilingual, thematic)
- Oxford Wordpower Dictionary
- Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English
- Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (with CD-ROM)
- The Longman Lexicon of Contemporary English
- Longman English Activator (as a second dictionary, to help students write correctly)
- Collins Cobuild Dictionary
- Oxford Duden Pictorial Spanish-English Dictionary (but no phonetics)

REFERENCE GRAMMARS AND GRAMMAR PRACTICE

- English Grammar in Use Raymond Murphy (Cambridge University Press)
- Practical English Usage Michael Swan (Oxford University Press)
- First Certificate Language Practice Michael Vince (Heinemann) (The most complete grammar at this level,   with grammar explanation, exercises, key, vocabulary exercises).
- Grammar for Everyday Use Ona Low (Collins)
- Oxford Practice Grammar John Eastwood (Oxford University Press)
- The Heinemann English Grammar Beaumont & Granger (Heinemann)
- Longman English Grammar Practice L G Alexander Longman) (self-study edition)
- How English Works Swan & Walter (Oxford University Press)

PHONETICS

- English Pronunciation Illustrated John Trim (Oxford University Press)
- Ship or Sheep? Ann Baker (Cambridge University Press) (with cassette)
- Tree or Three? Ann Baker (Cambridge University Press) (with cassette)
- Headway Intermediate Pronunciation Bowler & Parminter (Oxford University Press)

VOCABULARY

- First Certificate Organiser John Flower (Language Teaching Publications)
- Intermediate Vocabulary B J Thomas (Nelson)
- Build Your Vocabulary, 1 & 2 John Fowler and Michael Berman (Language Teaching Publications)
- Test Your Vocabulary, Books 1-4 Peter Watcyn-Jones (Penguin English)

MAGAZINES

- Speak Up (a monthly magazine with CD, and optional film on video or DVD with subtitles in English)
- Hot English

ON-LINE RESOURCES

- Dictionaries:

www.dictionary.cambridge.org/
www.wordreference.com
www.dictionarycambridge.org
www.dictionary.com
www.alphadictionary.com
www.merrianwebster.com
www.britannica.com
www.thefreedictionary.com

- Collocation dictionary:

www.ozdic.com/


- Other interesting websites:

www.talkingpeople.net
www.bbc.co.uk
www.eslabout.com