Category: Spelling

The term silent E refers to the use of an unpronounced E after another letter (usually a consonant) at the end of a word. ​
​

 In most cases, a silent E at the end of a word changes its pronunciation. ​In C-V-C words, the vowel is almost always a "short" vowel. When we add an silent final -E, it changes the short vowel to a long vowel sound. ​Silent final -E makes the vowel say its name.
​

For example:​

• Hat /hæt/ has a short A sound, and Hate /heɪt/ has a long A sound.
• Them /ðɛm/ has a short E sound, and Theme  /θim/ has a long E sound.
• Tim /tɪm/ has a short I sound, and Time /taɪm/ has a long I sound.
• Hop /hɑp/ has a short O sound, and Hope /hoʊp/ has a long O sound.
• Cut /kʌt/ has a short U sound, and Cute /kiut/ has a long U sound.

A. The silent E tells a C or G to make a soft sound.
​
For example:

B. The silent E tells TH to make a voiced sound. 
In most words that end in TH, it is pronounce as /θ/, an unvoiced consonant sound, for example bath, month, birth, teeth, etc. When a final TH is followed by E, however, it almost takes the voiced consonant sound /ð/.

​For example:

• bathe /beɪð/.
• breathe /brið/.

The rules of English spelling state that every syllable must have a vowel. A silent E following a syllabic L prevents words from violating the spelling rule.

​For example:

For example:

• by /baɪ/ - bye /baɪ/.

​

​​Rule #5 - Stop words ending in U and V

The rules of English spelling state that words cannot end with a u or v. This is a consonant spelling rule. The silent final E is not there to change the pronunciation of the vowel.
​

For example:

• adjective /ˈæʤɪktɪv/.
• argue /ˈɑrgju/.
• blue /blu/.
• drive /draɪv/.
• give /gɪv/.
• have /hæv/.
• love /lʌv/.
• rescue /ˈrɛskju/.
• ​wave /weɪv/.

Note that words borrowed from other language such as bureau, chateau, jujitsu, menu, tiramisu and tofu and abbreviations such as flu (influenza) and gov (government) can end in a u or v.

Silent E keeps a singular noun from ending in a single S. 

For example:

• base /beɪs/.
• course /kɔrs/.
• cheese /ˈprɑməs/.
• house /haʊz/.
• goose /gus/.
• mouse /maʊz/.
• promise /ˈprɑməs/.
• verse /vɜrs/.

The silent E has several roles. However, generally there are exceptions, here's a list of some words that break the rules:

Also, keep in mind that there are few words in which the silent  final -E isn't silent at all. 

For example:

• acne /ˈækni/.
• apostrophe /əˈpɑstrəfi/.
• fiance /fiˈɑnˌseɪ/.
• karate /kəˈrɑti/.
• recipe /ˈrɛsəpi/.
• resume /rɪˈzum/.

Category: Vocabulario

A fable is ​a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral. The characters in a fable are usually animals whose words and actions reflect human behavior.

The word “fable” comes from the Latin “fabula,” or “story.” A person who writes fables is a fabulist.

​​​The most famous fables in the world are Aesop's Fables. Aesop was an Ancient Greek storyteller and his fables have been gathered across the centuries in a variety of languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. ​

Fables were probably used by medieval troubadours, musicians, bards and poets to orally transmit their stories to the people. It's one of the forms of folk literature most used throughout history. Several colloquial phrases are derived from fables, such as “A wolf in sheep’s clothing” and “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

​Famous fables

There once was a speedy Hare who bragged about how fast he could run. Tired of hearing him boast, the Tortoise, challenged him to a race. The Hare was soon far out of sight, and to make the Tortoise feel very deeply how ridiculous it was for him to try a race with a Hare, he lay down beside the course to take a nap until the Tortoise should catch up.  Meanwhile, the tortoise continued walking slowly, but steady. He was determined not to give up. After a time, he passed the place where the Hare was sleeping. In the end, the tortoise wins.
​

One day, a Fox was very hungry, and he was looking for something to eat. Then, he saw a Crow sitting on the highest branch of a tree. The Crow had a piece of cheese in her beak. "Good morning, Mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking today! How glossy your feathers! How bright your eye! I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does. Let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds." Listening to these flattering words, the Crow forgot all her suspicion, and also her breakfast. She wanted very much to be called Queen of Birds. So, the Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by the Fox.
​

​In fact, the fable is one of the oldest and most lasting methods of both written and oral storytelling. They can be found in the literature of almost all countries and languages, and are a fundamental part of the folklore of must cultures. ​Fables are a good way to convey moral meaning because they are simple in nature and can be easily be read by anyone.

Category: Vocabulary

Category: Topic In The Syllabus

A continuación, veremos la estructura y organización para crear una conversación sencilla sobre servicios comunitarios:

1. Apertura.
2. Cuerpo
3. Cierre.

En esta primera parte se da inicio a la conversación, se indica el deseo de entablar el diálogo mediante un saludo o llamada de atención al destinatario.
​

(Telephone call)
​A: Good morning, Feeding America. How can I help you? - Buenos días, Alimentando América. ¿Cómo le puedo ayudar?
B: Good morning. Can I speak to Mr. González, please.  - Buenos días. ¿Puedo hablar con el Sr. González, por favor.

(Face-to-face)
A: Good morning. What can I do for you? - Buenos días. ¿Qué puedo hacer por usted?
B: Good morning. I'm interested in volunteering. - Buenos días. Estoy interesado en ser voluntario.

(Telephone call)
​A: Hi, Steve! I received your message. What's up?  - ¡Hola Steve! Recibí tu mensaje. ¿Qué sucede?
B: Hi, Charles! Thanks for calling me back. - ¡Hola, Charles! Gracias por devolverme la llamada.

(Face-to-face)
​A: Hi, John! What are you doing? - ¡Hola, John! ¿Qué estás haciendo?
B: Oh, hi Laura! I'm looking for a community service project for my school. - ¡Oh, hola Laura! Estoy buscando un proyecto de servicio comunitario para mi escuela.

Es la parte central y donde se intercambia la información. A continuación, tenemos algunos pares de adyacencia:
​

(Telephone call)
#1
A:  What exactly are you interested in? - ¿Qué es exactamente lo que le interesa?
B: I'd like to collect canned food and pantry items to help my community  - Me gustaría recolectar alimentos enlatados y artículos de despensa para ayudar a mi comunidad.

#2
A:  Have you done any volunteer work before? - ¿Ha realizado algún trabajo voluntario antes?
B: Yes, I have. I worked at the animal shelter - Sí. Trabajé en el refugio de animales.

(Face-to-face)
​#1
A:  I'm Laura. What's your name? - Yo soy Laura ¿Cuál es tu nombre?
B: My name's Emma. Nice to meet you - Mi nombre es Emma. Un placer conocerte.

#2
A:  What are the activities? - ¿Cuáles son las actividades?
B: Recruit and manage volunteers to deliver the food - Reclutar y gestionar voluntarios para entregar la comida.

#3
A:  What do I need? - ¿Qué necesito?
B: Fill in our volunteer assessment form, please - Complete nuestro formulario de evaluación de voluntarios, por favor.

 A:  Can you give me your phone number in case of any doubts? - ¿Me puede dar su número de teléfono en caso de dudas?
B: Sure. It's 352-589-5699 - Seguro. Es 352-589-5699.

​#1
A: There is a meeting tomorrow. Are you available? - Mañana hay una reunión. ¿Estas disponible?
B: Sure - Seguro.


#2
​​A: Can you work on weekends? - ¿Puedes trabajar los fines de semana?
B: Sure - Seguro.

Por ultimo, se concluye la conversación y se suele incluir una despedida.
​

• I gotta go, bye! - Debo irme, ¡adiós!
  
• I’ll catch you later – Te veo más tarde.
• See you soon! - ¡Nos vemos pronto!
• Thanks. Bye! - Gracias. ¡Adios!​

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