Monday, April 30, 2012

This Week's Advice

Here's some advice about the Speaking Test.



J     Make sure you are familiar with what happens, and what skills you need to show, in each part of the test.
J     Practise speaking English as much as possible in groups and in pairs, both inside and outside the classroom.
J     Read the instructions carefully. What is the purpose of your talk? Who are you (supposedly) talking to? How can you make your audience feel “included”?
J     Speak clearly.
J     Use all the opportunities you're given in the test to speak, and extend your responses whenever possible.
J     Ask for clarification of instructions or a question if you're not sure.
J      In Part 2, be prepared to initiate discussion as well as responding to what your partner says.
J     Make full use of the time so that the examiner who is listening hears a lot of your English.

L     Don't prepare long answers in advance, or learn and practise speeches.
L     Don't try to dominate your partner or interrupt them abruptly during the speaking test.
L     Don't leave long or frequent pauses.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

This Week's Vocabulary


Is he waiting for a phone call? Expecting a phone call? Hoping for a phone call? What's the difference between "wait", "expect" and "hope"? Find out here.

Week beginning 23rd April

Thursday, April 19, 2012

This Week's Listen and Read


The 14th of April 2012 was the centenary – the 100th anniversary – of the sinking of the passenger ship Titanic in the north Atlantic. This podcast is about Titanic. I hope it will help you to learn some new words and expressions about ships and the sea, and that you will learn about “unsinkable” words. (Don’t know what “unsinkable” words are? Then listen carefully to the rest of the podcast!) Click here.

Source: listen to English, learn English.

This Week's Homework


HRH Queen Elizabeth II  approves of people doing homework. (Better than hunting elephants!)

NB2:
  • Reading Comprehension. 3 texts. Notice that there is a typing error on page 4. Statement One should read: "Being angry and emotional makes you ill."
  • Workbook "Reading and Writing Portfolio 5." Please give me Ex 5b only. Deadline 25th / 26th April.
  • Oral presentation. (Optional)
  • Workbook and CD Rom Lesson 6D.
NA1:
  • Dragons' Eggs.
  • Reading Comprehension.
  • Oral Assignment. (Please do it asap - as soon as possible.)
  • Supplementary worksheet Unit 6A Page 175 (articles).

Monday, April 16, 2012

Important News for NB2


If you'd like to sit the Certification Exam in June, which is highly recommended, you must register for it. Registration dates are between 2nd and 15th May. Our lovely director will come to class to give you the registration form on Wed 2nd or Thursday 3rd  May and answer any questions you might have.

Remember that the Writing, Listening and Reading Exams for Certification begin on Monday 4th June at 15:45. The oral exam will take place after this date. Make a note in your diary now!


This Week's Oral Assignment for NA1


You have been asked to give a three-minute talk to adult students at a language school in Finland about one of these topics. The common language is English. Please remember to introduce yourself, introduce your topic and conclude your presentation. If possible, send your recording to me before Friday 27th April. This is a useful link to both record and send me your work. Please do it well.
  • An introduction to the Canary Islands
  • Some cultural aspects about the island where I live
  • The best film I've ever seen
  • The best book I've ever read
  • The most beautiful painting I've ever seen
  • The best play I've ever seen
  • Why the media is important in our lives
  • My strangest dream

Thursday, April 12, 2012

This Week's Important News for NA1


We'll be doing a Consolidation Test of Unit Five on Monday! Be prepared!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

This Week's Poetry


You might enjoy listening to this poem by the Scottish Poet Laureate, Edwin Morgan. It's called, The Loch Ness Monster's Song.

This Week's Homework


NB2: Finish How I Met Myself; Listening CD 4; SB P 56 Ex 1 ans 2 a and b.

NA1: Finish Dragons' Eggs; Supplementary Worksheet Unit 5  P 174 Reporting Verbs; listening test 3 for Wednesday 18th.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

This Week's Art

Vase with Pink Roses by Vincent Van Gogh
When talking about your favourite painting, some of you chose Vincent Van Gogh's  Sunflowers. Here is another piece of work by the same artist. Perhaps it's one of his least-known pictures. Together with Georgia O'Keefe's Oriental Poppies, it was included in The Guardian's "The Ten Best Flower Paintings". For more details, click here.