Mr E
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theniceman.bsky.social
Mr E
@theniceman.bsky.social
French and Spanish teacher. I like to play football in the park with my brother. Last weekend I went shopping. Next weekend if it is sunny I would like to swim.
https://whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/
November 26, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Reposted by Mr E
a. Me gusta nadar. Me encanta jugar al futból. Me gusta mucho comer.

b. Después de nadar un par de horas en la piscina de mi pueblo, fui a desayunar en un restaurante cerca de mi casa con unos amigos de mi equipo de futból.

Answer a. is an extended answer. Answer b. is a minimal response.
November 26, 2025 at 6:10 AM
"It was identified early on as a probable outcome."

April 2021. Literally the 6th post out of 230 I ever wrote.

It's not as if we didn't have the chance to not mess this up.

whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2021/04/no-m...
No More Mr Nice Guy (for now)
Note. In this post from 2021, the references to the "new GCSE" may be to what we now call "the old GCSE."  Oh well, I suppose it was inevita...
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:17 AM
a. Me gusta nadar. Me encanta jugar al futból. Me gusta mucho comer.

b. Después de nadar un par de horas en la piscina de mi pueblo, fui a desayunar en un restaurante cerca de mi casa con unos amigos de mi equipo de futból.

Answer a. is an extended answer. Answer b. is a minimal response.
November 26, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Reposted by Mr E
Good 🧵 about Steve Witkoff, the narrative of him being a “useful idiot” is a dangerous trap to walk in.

Witkoff has spent three decades swimming in russian money, russian mob circles, and russian real-estate pipeline. russia knows how to grow an asset

threadreaderapp.com/thread/19933...
November 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Reposted by Mr E
President Bonespur shooting himself in the foot.
The draft dodging idiot posted a pic of this West Point plaque. It contains these words:

“Our American Code of Military Obedience requires that, should orders and the law ever conflict, our officers must obey the law.”

That is precisely what Senator Mark Kelly told officers to do. #NoSedition
November 25, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Reposted by Mr E
Hey Canada 👋
Most people hear “heat pump” and think of small air-source units at home. But Germany is building one of the world’s largest heat pumps in Mannheim: a 162 MW river-source system using heat from the Rhine.

Big reminder that heat-pumps scale far beyond households — they can decarbonise whole cities.
November 25, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Reposted by Mr E
✍️ Patriotism and prejudice in the UK’s ‘Raise the Colours’ campaign

The red-cross flag of St George has become a common sight in recent times – is it for a shared love of country or a ‘Keep Out’ sign?

By Emily Georgiadis
Patriotism and prejudice in the UK’s ‘Raise the Colours’ campaign
The red-cross flag of St George has become a common sight in recent times – is it for a shared love of country or a ‘Keep Out’ sign?
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
"I told AQA where to stick their stupid markscheme" is a minimal response.

"I told AQA where they could stick their stupid markscheme" is a well-developed response.

A whole band higher for amount of information.
November 25, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by Mr E
The inanity of the answers rewarded by this inane markscheme is NOT a mistake.

This exam was always intended to test items (3) of language, not the ability to use the language to communicate, create meaning, say something worthwhile.

whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/11/is-t...
Is there Salvation for the GCSE Conversation?
In a previous post , we looked at how this definition of "good development" is a joke. AQA exemplification of "amount of information" in th...
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Don't teach, "Me gustan las asignaturas más prácticas o creativas como música o tecnología."

Teach, "Me gusta la música y me gusta la tecnología y me gusta el dibujo."

It's 2 bands higher for amount of information.

The first is just a minimal response. The second is extended.
November 25, 2025 at 6:53 PM
The inanity of the answers rewarded by this inane markscheme is NOT a mistake.

This exam was always intended to test items (3) of language, not the ability to use the language to communicate, create meaning, say something worthwhile.

whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/11/is-t...
Is there Salvation for the GCSE Conversation?
In a previous post , we looked at how this definition of "good development" is a joke. AQA exemplification of "amount of information" in th...
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Don't teach, "Me gusta bailar."

Teach, "Bailo y me gusta."

It's a whole band higher for amount of information.
November 25, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Don't teach, "Alrededor de 1992, vi a Luis Miguel cantar en Vivo en la plaza Monumental de toros de Morelia."

Teach, "Hace mucho tiempo vi a Luis Miguel y cantaba."

It contains 3 times the amount of information.
November 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Don't teach, "en arrivant..."

Teach, "Quand je suis arrivée..."

It's a whole band higher. Not for the language used. It's for amount of information.
November 25, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Don't teach, "en mi barrio..."

Teach, "Donde yo vivo..."

It's a whole band higher for the AQA speaking exam.
November 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Don't teach "Quiero ir a la playa."

Teach "Quiero que vayamos a la playa". It's a whole band higher for amount of information.
November 25, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Anyone know if "il y a deux jours" counts as a conjugated verb and is therefore a clause in French?

Teach that over "le week-end dernier" to score a whole band higher for amount of information.
November 25, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Reposted by Mr E
Reposted by Mr E
One of these scores two bands higher:

a. Me gusta nadar y me gusta jugar al futból y me gusta comer.

b. El pasado sábado por la mañana, después de ir a la piscina a nadar un par de horas, desayuné con unos amigos de mi equipo de futból.

It's a.

b. is a "minimal response" with pieces added on.
November 25, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by Mr E
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.

Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise

bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM