Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: September 1, 2009
GameSET&Match
Tennis vocabulary
How many of these tennis words do you know? Put the words in the right box.
ball court game match net opponent players point racket receiver server set.
How to play tennis
Use the words above to complete the text.
Tennis is played on a rectangular (1) by either two people (singles) or four(doubles). (2) stand on opposite sides of a (3) and use a (4) to hit a (5) to each other. The player who hits the ball first is the (6) and the person who returns it is the (7) . The ball can only bounce once after it has been hit. If a player can’t hit the ball or hits it out of the
court, their (8) wins a (9) . The aim is to win enough points to win a (10) . The first person to win six games wins a (11) .The first to win two sets wins the (12) .
Love-15-30-40
Scoring in tennis is done like a clock.Love means zero. The first point is 15 and the second point is 30. The third point was originally 45 but is now 40. The game is won on the point after
40. If the score is 40-40, also known as deuce, one player must win by two points. The first of these points is called advantage.
People Scoring Place & equipment
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: September 1, 2009
I hope you all have had a nice summer.
Best wishes.
Laura.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: June 2, 2009
http://pronunciaringles.com/
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: June 1, 2009
Hope you pass them with flying colours!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: May 25, 2009
C/ Los Sauces, 37
23456 Madrid(Spain)
May 03, 2009
IBIS English HOTELS
17, Trafalgar Square
London, 2234
England
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing with reference to our brief stay in your hotel Ibis Big Ben in London on Saturday 19th July (Reservation number 222).
Firstly, no sooner did we arrive in your hotel facilities than we unfortunaltely learnt that the reservation that we had made through your website two months before our arrival had dissapeared and nobody seemed to know how that was possible. Finally, they solved the problem giving uswhat was supposed to be, far and away, the biggest and most co mfortable room in the hotel. However when we went into room number 100, we discovered, to our surprise, that it was barely big for one person alone. To this point, a further problem was that at the end of our stay we were overcharged when we paid the cost of our twin room by credit card.
On the other hand, the facilities, whose pictures cover the pages of your leaflets, must have dissapeared the moment we arrived since only occasionally did the lift work and neither the gym was open nor the swimming pool had been cleaned for years. (Please, find attached some pictures that prove those problems).
In addition, in your advertisements you always claim that the food in your hotels is tasty, traditional and well-cooked. By the way, raw vegetables, meat as hard as a rock and cold bittersweet soup is not what people assume to be good food. Moreover, it must be said that the staff at the restaurant were untrained and unsuitable for this job since they were hopeless working as waiters.
Finally, taking all the aforementioned in mind, we would be grateful if your company refund the entire cost of the stay in your hotel in London. Nevertheless, if we do not receive a proper reply in due time we will take legal advice in the Consumer Association and, if it were necessary, we might take further legal action.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours fauthfully,
Ruth Lar
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: May 25, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt9j80Jkc_A
Making calls successfully
SPEAKING. When the person you want to speak to is not available, you can leave a message. Number the steps below (a-f) in order (1-6).
a. Repeat your name/company.
b. End the call.
c. Introduce yourself.
d. Ask when the person will be available.
e. Ask to speak to the person you want.
f. Leave a message.
FOCUS ON TELEPHONING
Please don´t put me ON hold
I´ll put you THROUGH
Can I call you BACK?
Would you mind PHONING again?
Do you know when she´ll be BACK?
To be ON another line.
Hang ON.
LISTENING- Overcoming difficulties.
The speaker has an unfamiliar name.
There is too much background noise.
The speaker talks too softly.
The speaker giver too much information all at once.
The line quality is poor.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: May 25, 2009
http://feeds2.feedburner.com/veryvocabulary
http://feedproxy.google.com/veryvocabulary
Right now we are in exam period, and so everybody is very stressed. However, I saw this and realised that things could in fact be a lot worse, and that we should be grateful we are not this poor boy!!
I imagine being a teenage boy is very difficult anyway, but this must make it ten times worse…?!
Boys, let me know your opinion on this. And girls… do we feel sorry for him or not??
Spotty teenager Sam Cummings has been nicknamed Craphead Slaphead because his acne spells out the word A-R-S-E.
The unfortunate 16-year-old, from Berkshire, says he has suffered from the spotty skin condition for years and has always had to put up with remarks about his blemishes from cruel classmates.
But things took a turn for the worse for the Titherton Secondary schoolboy when he woke up one morning last week and found his out of control zits had merged – and formed the word arse.
He said: “I’ve always had bad skin and didn’t think things could get any worse, but obviously I was wrong. I was horrified when I walked into the bathroom the other day and looked in the mirror.
“I literally did a double-take when I noticed my spots formed a-r-s-e and I tried everything to get them off.”
But sadly for Sam, his attempts to squeeze his spots into submission and cover them with his mum’s concealer were in vain.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: May 24, 2009
The Link: a web quest
Go to www.revealingthelink.com and complete the tasks.
Who is Ida?
Go to the section and find the answer to these questions in the text.
1. How old is Ida?
2. Where was she discovered?
Ida’s anatomy
Follow the link to Ida’s Anatomy and look at the picture.
3. Which 6 parts of the body are indicated on the image?
Move your mouse over the dots to check your answers and then click on the dots to answer these
questions.
4. How many fingers does Ida have?
5. Does she have nails?
6. Does Ida have a long or short face?
Ida’s world
Go to the section and read the introduction.
7. Ida was found in Germany. What was it like in her time and where was it?
The discovery
Go to the section. Read these questions and then watch the video to find the answers.
8. When Jørn Hurum saw Ida for the first time, did he think it was a fake?
9.Jørn describes how he felt these emotions. In what order does he mention them?
happy relieved tense
The implications
Go to the section and read the first two paragraphs of the text.
10. Why is Ida important?
Download the image of Ida to take a closer look.
More about Ida
Go to the section and find the trailer of the film, The Link. Watch it and answer these questions.
11. Complete the sentence: A missing link to the _____ ?
12. How long did the scientists study the fossil for?
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 18, 2008
Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: November 25, 2008
Do not worry! You’ll do great!!!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: November 25, 2008
Did you enjoy the activity on commercials? If so here we have.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: November 28, 2008
I listen to music on CDs / the radio / the internet.
at is for specific places,
Let’s meet at my place / the restaurant / the shopping center.
and since a website is a place on the internet, I would go with “at”, too, but never with in… since it is for large locations and rooms, never use it with websites.
I live in Miranda
I’m in room number nine.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: December 4, 2008
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: December 11, 2008
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: December 13, 2008
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: December 14, 2008
All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth!
The words and lyrics for All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth are by Don Gardner. The first publication of the Christmas song All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth was in 1946. The words of the Christmas song were parodied in the UK in the sixties, at the height of Beatlemania, when when a British comedienne named Dora Bryan recorded “All I want for Christmas is a Beatle”. Every generation there appears to have a humorous Christmas song released like All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth. One cannot help wonder what future generations will make of the lyrics!
All I want for Christmas
is my two front teeth,
my two front teeth,
see my two front teeth!
Gee, if I could only
have my two front teeth,
then I could wish you
“Merry Christmas.”
All I want for Christmas
is my two front teeth,
my two front teeth,
see my two front teeth.
Gee, if I could only
have my two front teeth,
then I could wish you
“Merry Christmas!”
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: December 14, 2008
SCENE 1: “Buying jewellery” scene: This scene has been extracted from a very popular British film Love Actually (2003). Can you recognise the actors?
Who says what?
a) Right, listen. You keep yourself occupied while I do the boring stuff for our mothers.
b) Lovely, would you like it gift wrapped?
c) Could we be quite quick, please?
d) Ready in the flashiest of the flashes
e) Are you gonna dip it in yogurt? Cover it with chocolate buttons?
f) Don´t worry, my expectations are not that high after 13 years of Mr Oh-But-You-Always-Love-Scarves.
Answer these questions about the scene:
a) Where does it take place?
b) How much is the necklace?
c) How would you describe the man’s attitude towards the assistant?
d) Why doesn’t he buy the necklace in the end?
Politeness in discourse: This scene provides a perfect example of politeness and formal style in English speech. Read the script below, complete the gaps and underline all the words and expressions used to sound polite. Underline all the instances of will+infinitive. What does it express?
ASSISTANT: Looking for anything in particular, sir?
CUSTOMER: Yes, that necklace there. How much is it?
ASSISTANT: It’s 270 pounds, sir
CUSTOMER: All right, I´ll have it.
ASSISTANT: Lovely. Would you like it …………… wrapped?
CUSTOMER: yes, all right.
ASSISTANT: Lovely. Let me just ……………… it in the box. There.
CUSTOMER: Look, could we be quite quick, please?
ASSISTANT: Certainly sir, ready in the flashiest of the flashes. There
CUSTOMER: It’s great
ASSISTANT: Not quite finished.
CUSTOMER: Look, I don’t need a bag. I´ll just put it in my pocket.
ASSISTANT: This isn’t a bag, sir. This is so …………more than a bag!.
CUSTOMER: Could we be quite quick, please?
ASSISTANT: Prontissimo!
CUSTOMER: What’s that?
ASSISTANT: It’s a cinnamon stick, sir.
CUSTOMER: Actually, I can’t wait.
ASSISTANT: You won’t regret it, sir.
CUSTOMER: You wanna bet?
ASSISTANT: It’s but the work of a moment. Almost finished.
CUSTOMER: Almost finished? What else is gonna be? Aree you gonna dip it in ……………? Cover it with ………………….. buttons?
ASSISTANT: We’re going to pop it in a Christmas box
CUSTOMER: But a don’t want a Christmas box!
ASSISTANT: But you said you wanted it gift wrapped.
CUSTOMER: I did but
ASSISTANT: It’s the final flourish.
CUSTOMER: Can I just ………….?
ASSISTANT: A spring of holly
CUSTOMER: Not ………… holly
WOMAN: Looking around the jewellery section…
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: December 14, 2008
See you in class!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: December 16, 2008
http://www.esl-lab.com/checkin/checkinrd1.htm
Guest: Hi. I have a (1) for tonight.
Hotel Clerk: And you name?
Guest: It’s Nelson. Charles Nelson.
Hotel Clerk: Okay. Mr. Nelson. That’s a room for five, and . . .
Guest: Excuse me? You mean a room for five dollars? I didn’t know the special was so good.
Hotel Clerk: No, no, no. According to our records, a room for five guests was (2) under your name.
Guest: No. No. Hold on. There must be some (3).
Hotel Clerk: Okay. Let’s check this again. Okay, Mr. Charles C. Nelson for tonight . . .
Guest: Ah. There’s the problem. My name is Charles Nelson, not Charles C. Nelson. [Uhh] You must have two (4)under the name.
Hotel Clerk: Okay. Let me check this again. Oh. Okay. Here we are.
Guest: Yeah.
Hotel Clerk: Charles Nelson. A room for one for the 19th . . .
Guest: Wait, wait! It was for tonight. Not tomorrow night.
Hotel Clerk: Hum. Hum. I don’t think we have any rooms for tonight. There’s a (5) going on in town, and uh, let’s see. Yeah, no rooms.
Guest: Ah come on! You must have something. Anything.
Hotel Clerk: Well. We do have some rooms under (6) with just a roll-a-way bed. [U-hh] None of the normal (7) like a TV or working shower or toilet.
Guest: Ah man. Come on. There must be something else.
Hotel Clerk: Well. Let, let me check my computer here. Ah!
Guest: What?
Hotel Clerk: There has been a (8) for this evening. A honeymoon suite is now available.
Guest: Great. I’ll take it.
Hotel Clerk: But I’ll have to charge you two hundred fifty dollars for the night.
Guest: Ah. Man. I should get a discount for the (9).
Hotel Clerk: Well. The best I can give you is a ten percent discount plus a ticket for a free continental breakfast.
Guest: Hey. Isn’t the breakfast free anyway?
Hotel Clerk: Well, only on weekends.
Guest: I want to talk to the manager.
Hotel Clerk: Wait, wait, wait Mr. Nelson. I think I can give you an additional 15 (10) and I’ll throw in a free room for the next time you visit us.
Guest: That I’ll be a long time.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: December 16, 2008
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: December 16, 2008
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: December 16, 2008
See you all on Thursday!!!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: December 16, 2008
http://www.esl-lab.com/checkin/checkinrd1.htm
Summarize the problems that the guest encountered on his visit to the hotel in the conversation. Was each problem resolved to his satisfaction? What would you have done if you had been in his shoes? Discuss your feelings. Write a complaint letter. Instructions coming soon.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: December 20, 2008
Congrats Kike!
Merry Xmas to everybody!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: December 20, 2008
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 9, 2009
The dinner will be for pupils only?
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 8, 2009
Hi there crowned heads!
I´ve been checking the blog and I am just impresed by how you could make conversation flow. I hope the rest of the subjects join you before it is too late.
I promise to answer to all your doubts and to update the info and exercises. I´ll post the key soon too. I´d better catch up now!
NB- Hope Laura´s lucky charm didn´t put a hex on us… Yep, Jinx was the name of the cat which was beleieved to bring bad luck in the film Meet the parents.
BTW, do you remember the most popular resolution for 2009?
Good night class! See you tomorrow.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 9, 2009
Have a look at this pwp. It can help you to write your complaint text if you prefer to complain by talking on the phone. Pay attention to the formulae used in the oral language. You know, in case black makes you feel sad…
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 9, 2009
How to Write a Letter of Complaint
The structure of a complaint letter should be organized in order to explain exactly what is
1.First paragraph. It should contain info about:
2. Second paragraph: it should state what is wanted of the individual, company or organization.
3. Third paragraph: It is the “be nice” paragraph. This is where you thank them for their time.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 9, 2009
(use letterheaded paper showing home/business address and phone number)
name and address (for example to a service manager)
date
Dear (name)
Outstanding service problem – contract ref (number)
I really need your help with this.
Your engineer (name if appropriate) called for the third time in the past ten days to repair our (machine and model) at the above address, and I am still without a working machine.
He was unable to carry out the repair once more because the spare part (type/description/ref) was again not compatible. (I attach copies of the service visit reports.)
Your engineers have been excellent as always, but without the correct parts they can’t do the job required.
Can I ask that you look into this to ensure that the next service visit, arranged for (date), resolves the matter.
Please telephone me to let me know how you’d like to deal with this.
When the matter is resolved I’d be grateful for a suitable refund of some of my service contract costs.
I greatly appreciate your help.
Yours sincerely
signature
Charming Charles again…
(use letterheaded paper showing home/business address and phone number)
name and address (of customer service department)
date
Dear Sirs
Faulty (xyz) product
I’m afraid that the enclosed (xyz) product doesn’t work. It is the third one I’ve had to return this month (see attached correspondence).
I bought it from ABC stores at Newtown, Big County on (date).
I was careful to follow the instructions for use, honestly.
Other than the three I’ve had to return recently, I’ve always found your products to be excellent.
I’d be grateful if you could send a replacement and refund my postage (state amount).
I really appreciate your help.
Yours faithfully
signature
Charming Charles
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 9, 2009
STORE WARS: THE ORGANIC REBELLION
“Not so long ago, in a supermarket not so far away…”
“Store Wars” is a hilarious five-minute mini movie about a small band of organic vegetable puppets fighting the “Evil Side of the Farm”. It was produced by OTA in an effort to educate consumers about the many benefits of organic products. By spoofing -misrepresenting- a pop culture phenomenon like Star Wars, OTA hopes to attract a new generation of organic consumers, especially “Gen Xers” who grew up loving Luke, Leia and Han,and are now increasingly worried about making healthy food choices for their families.
LEAD-IN:
Match the puppets from “Store Wars” with the corresponding Star Wars characters:
|
STORE WARS |
STAR WARS |
|
1. C3 Peanuts (a can of peanuts) |
a. Master Yoda |
|
2. ChewBroccoli (a head of broccoli) |
b. Princess Leia |
|
3. Ham Solo (a slice of ham) |
c. Darth Vader |
|
4. Cuke (a cucumber) |
d. The Force |
|
5. Princess Lettuce |
e. Obi Wan Kenobi |
|
6. Darth Tader (a potato) |
f. C3-PO |
|
7. Obi Wan Cannoli (a creamy roll) |
g. Han Solo |
|
8. Yoghurt |
h. Luke Skywalker |
|
9. The Farm |
i. Chewbacca |
PART 1:
Glossary of words: eatable (adj.); ruthlessly (adv.); to whip out (phrasal v.); birth-rate (n.); unsustainable (adj.); almost (adv.); to be taken over, -control (phrasal v.); to join (v.)
Watch the beginning of the film and answer the questions below:
Obi Wan Cannoli: These are dark times, young Cuke.
Cuke Skywalker: What do you mean Obi Wan Cannoli?
O: For over a thousand generations organic food like us lived in harmony with the ways of the Farm.
C: The Farm?
O: Yes, Cuke. The Farm is what gives us our power. It’s a kind of Field that creates all eatable things.
C: Wow!
O: But at last, the market has been taken over by The Dark Side of the Farm…an empire of pollution and pesticides has ruthlessly conquered the market. Nearly whipping-out our organic birth-rate with unsustainable short-sighted -ill-considered- practices like genetic engineering, irradiation and massive chemical pesticide use. Seduced by artificially lowered prices, people don’t even want to know where their food comes from. The true ways of the farm are now almost forgotten. But there is a new hope…
- What are the two bands in “Store Wars”? Who is governing the Store at the moment?
- Why do people buy chemical food?
PART 2: Watch part 2 of the film and answer the following questions:
- What’s the name of the resistance group to fight “The Dark Side of the Farm”?
- Name Cuke’s mates in the fight.
- Who is the “Evil Lord of the Dark Side”? What were his origins? Who are his colleagues?
- What does Darth Tader promise Luke? Do you think he will follow him?
PART 3: What happens in the end? What is the Rebels’ last hope?
SCRIPT
A growing resistance called “The Organic Rebellion” is fighting back. You must learn the true ways of the Farm if you’re to join the rebellion and rescue Princess Lettuce.
Princess Lettuce: Help me, Obi Wan Cannoli! You’re my only hope!
O: Of course you will need to find friends to help you on your wa r.
Ham Solo: I’m Ham Solo, Captain of the Millenium Scallion. I hear you’re looking for a passenger to the Organic System.
O: Yes, indeed; if it’s a fast ship.
HS: Sure, and I´ve got the best co-pilot in the products’ section: Chew Broccoli!
O: There will be many dangers.
C: Watch out for those Thai Fighters!
HS: I see them, I see them!
C: Quick! They are heading for that small moment!.
O: That’s not a moon, that’s a melon!
All: The Death Melon!!
O: The Giant Fruit threatens us all
PL: A little tough for an egg, aren’t you?
O: Oh! The uniform! I´m Cuke Skywalker, I´m here to rescue you! I´m here with Obi Wan Cannoli! Come on!
O: Your path will not be easy, for you must confront the Evil Lord of the Dark Side: Darth Tader. Tader was once a pupil of mine before he turned to the Dark Side of the Farm. He’s now more chemical than vegetable. Proceed and get him. He raided -caught–and murdered your father, Organic Skywalker.
Darth Tader: Obi Wan never told you about your father.
C: He told me enough, he told me you killed him.
DT: No, I´m your father.
C: That’s really impossible!
DT: Search your peelings, Cuke. Known to be truth. Join me and together we can rule the supermarket as father and son.
C: No! I’ll never join you!
O: Learn about the Farm, Cuke; help the rebels expose the Dark Side’s technological shortcuts and their true costs. We must win this battle! Use the Farm Cuke, stretch out your peelings. It’s up to you, Cuke. You’re the Rebels’ last hope. Isn’t that right, Yoghurt?
Yoghurt: Strong with the Farm he is! But our last hope Luke is not. There is another: You!. When the market you visit, you can keep your family and the Planet safe from the Dark Side by choosing organic. MAY THE FARM BE WITH YOU! ALWAYS!
- Do you want to watch it again? Visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUi43BCrsH0
FOLLOW-UP: Organic vs. chemical food. Discuss in groups:
- Do you agree with Yoghurt’s final message?
- Why is chemical food so popular nowadays?
- Think of three advantages of eating organic food and three disadvantages of eating chemical food.
For more information about organic food visit:
OTA’s (Organic Trade Association) site: http://www.ota.com/index.html
EU (European Union) site: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/splash_en
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 9, 2009
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart”
About the author: Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American poet, short-story writer, editor and literary critic, and is now celebrated as “the father of the short story in English”. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe is futher credited with contributing to the emergence of detective fiction. He was a pioneer in the study and representation of the psyche, both in its rational and irrational dimensions.
About the tale: “The Tell-Tale Heart” is one of Poe’s most famous short stories. Published for the first time in James Russell Lowell’s The Pioneer in January 1843, it was widely read as a landmark of Gothic fiction. Nowadays, however, most critics agree that “The Tell-Tale Heart” is a masterpiece of psychological terror, dramatizing the workings of a paranoid mind.
BEFORE READING:
1. Consider the significance of the title: what does “tell-tale heart” mean?
2. Read the first paragraph of the tale. How would you describe the narrator’s state? Can you predict the sort of “story” he’s about to tell?
WHILE READING:
1. Read the whole text. Underline the words you don’t know. Try to guess their meaning from the context.
2. Read the text again and answer the questions below:
a) What sort of relation did the narrator and the old man have?
b) According to the narrator, what was the cause of his/her deeds?
c) How long did it take for the narrator to kill the old man?
d) What does the narrator tell the story for? What is he/she trying to prove?
In “The Philosophy of Composition” Poe argues that all the elements in a literary work (theme, setting, mode of narration, symbols, etc) should work together in the service of a particular “effect”. His texts thus pursue an emotional response/”effect” on the part of the reader. 1. Has “The Tell-Tale Heart” had an “effect” on you?
2. In groups (4), discuss the following aspects of the story:
- SETTING: What is the setting of the story? Is it the traditionally “Gothic”? Consider Poe’s own words:
|
If in many of my productions terror has been the thesis, I mantain that terror is not of Germany – it does not derive from the supernatural- but of the soul. |
- SYMBOLS. Consider the tale’s major symbols “the Evil eye” and “the tell-tale heart”:
*Notice the identical pronunciation of “eye” and “I” /ai/.
*To what extent does the gaze of the other(s) construct the “I”?
*What is madness for the narrator? Who is the heart that tells a tale?
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 9, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 9, 2009
MUSIC IS ALL AROUND
After silence that which comes nearest to express the inexpressible is music
Aldous Huxley, “Music at Night”, 1931
Complete the table below:
|
ARTIST |
NATIONALITY |
STYLE |
|
Shakira |
|
|
|
Eminem |
|
|
|
Bob Marley |
|
|
|
The Beatles |
|
|
|
Marilyn Manson |
|
|
|
U2 |
|
|
|
Madonna |
|
|
|
Elvis |
|
|
|
Louis Amstrong |
|
|
|
Carlos Núñez |
|
|
|
Robbie Williams |
|
|
|
Norah Jones |
|
|
|
The Rolling Stones |
|
|
|
Michael Jackson |
|
|
|
Enya |
|
|
SPEAKING: In pairs, answer these questions:
1) What music/song/album do you like listening to …?
When you’re happy, when you’re sad, when you’re in a car, when you’re in love…
2) What’s your favourite decade for pop music? (the 80s, 90s, etc.)
3) Who is your favourite band/singer?
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 11, 2009
In the following letter some of the words are in bold. Read below the letter to find out why the highlighted words are incorrectly written, which will help you to avoid common mistakes.
The Manager
Helpful Trading Co
Smalltown
2 March 2006
Dear Sir,
I am really very disappointed by your shop.
I recently bought a sofa and it just was not right. It was terribly made and a complete waste of money. When I went back to complain, a shop assistant was very rude to me and she said she couldn’t deal with the complaint there and then. She said I should write to the manager.
I think that I am entitled to my money back, so what I want is a full refund or if you cannot manage that, a credit note for the full ammount. I also want an apology, plus an explanation of why I was treated so badly.
Thank you for your attention. Sorry to bring this matter up.
Yours sincerely,
A Citizen.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 11, 2009
Ey class… I have been thinking about a way to promote your participation on this blog. Can you guess how?
See you class number nine!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 11, 2009
THE MOM SONG
THE COMPLETE LYRICS
Get up now, get up now, get up out of bed
Wash your face, brush your teeth, comb your sleepy head
Here’s your clothes and your shoes
Hear the words I said: get up now, get up and make your bed
Are you hot? Are you cold? Are you wearing that?
Where’s your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and your gloves and your scarf and hat
Don’t forget you got to feed the cat
Eat your breakfast: the experts tell us it’s the most important meal of all
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at three today?
Don’t forget your piano lesson is this afternoon, so you must play
Don’t shovel, chew slowly
But hurry: the bus is here
Be careful, come back here,
Did you wash behind your ears?
Play outside, don’t play rough, would you just play fair?
Be polite, make a friend, don’t forget to share
Work it out, wait your turn, never take a dare,
Get along, don’t make me come down there
Clean your room, fold your clothes
Put your stuff away, make your bed,
Do it now, do we have all day?
Were you born in a barn? Would you like some hay
Can you even hear a word I say?
Answer the phone, get off the phone
Don’t sit so close, turn it down, no texting at the table
No more computer time tonight
Your iPod’s my iPod if you don’t listen up
Where you going and with whom and what time do you think you’re coming home?
Saying ‘Thank you’, ‘Please’, ‘Excuse me’ makes you welcome everywhere you roam
You’ll appreciate my wisdom someday when you’re older and you’re grown
Can’t wait ’til you have a couple little children of your own
You’ll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly
But right now, I thank you NOT to roll your eyes at me
Close your mouth when you chew, would appreciate
Take a bite, maybe two of the stuff you hate
Use your fork, do not you burp, or I’ll set you straight
Eat the food I put upon your plate
Get an A, get the door, don’t get smart with me
Get a grip, get in here I’ll count to 3
Get a job, get a life, get a PhD, get a dose of (poison)
I don’t care who started it, you’re grounded until your 36
Get your story straight and tell the truth for once for heaven’s sake
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you jump too?
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said at least a thousand times before that
You’re too old to act this way, it must be your father’s DNA
Look at me when I am talking, stand up straight when you walk
A place for everything and everything must be in place
Stop crying or I’ll give you something real to cry about
Oh! Brush your teeth, wash your face, get your PJs on
Get in bed, get a hug, say a prayer with Mom
Don’t forget “I love you” **KISS**
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom’s work never ends
You don’t need the reason why
Because, because, because, because
I said so, I said so, I said so, I said so
I’m the Mom, the mom, the mom, the mom, the mom
Ta-da
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 11, 2009
The Tell-Tale Heart
by Edgar Allan Poe
(published 1850)
TRUE! — nervous — very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses — not destroyed — not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily — how calmly I can tell you the whole story.
It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture –a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees — very gradually –I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.
Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded –with what caution –with what foresight –with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it –oh so gently! And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed, closed, so that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! I moved it slowly –very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man’s sleep. It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so far that I could see him as he lay upon his bed. Ha! –would a madman have been so wise as this? And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern cautiously –oh, so cautiously –cautiously (for the hinges creaked) –I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye. And this I did for seven long nights –every night just at midnight –but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye. And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he has passed the night. So you see he would have been a very profound old man, indeed, to suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept.
Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in opening the door. A watch’s minute hand moves more quickly than did mine. Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers –of my sagacity. I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph. To think that there I was, opening the door, little by little, and he not even to dream of my secret deeds or thoughts. I fairly chuckled at the idea; and perhaps he heard me; for he moved on the bed suddenly, as if startled. Now you may think that I drew back –but no. His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness, (for the shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers,) and so I knew that he could not see the opening of the door, and I kept pushing it on steadily, steadily.
I had my head in, and was about to open the lantern, when my thumb slipped upon the tin fastening, and the old man sprang up in bed, crying out –”Who’s there?”
I kept quite still and said nothing. For a whole hour I did not move a muscle, and in the meantime I did not hear him lie down. He was still sitting up in the bed listening; –just as I have done, night after night, hearkening to the death watches in the wall.
Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror. It was not a groan of pain or of grief –oh, no! –it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe. I knew the sound well. Many a night, just at midnight, when all the world slept, it has welled up from my own bosom, deepening, with its dreadful echo, the terrors that distracted me. I say I knew it well. I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart. I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first slight noise, when he had turned in the bed. His fears had been ever since growing upon him. He had been trying to fancy them causeless, but could not. He had been saying to himself –”It is nothing but the wind in the chimney –it is only a mouse crossing the floor,” or “It is merely a cricket which has made a single chirp.” Yes, he had been trying to comfort himself with these suppositions: but he had found all in vain. All in vain; because Death, in approaching him had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim. And it was the mournful influence of the unperceived shadow that caused him to feel –although he neither saw nor heard –to feel the presence of my head within the room.
When I had waited a long time, very patiently, without hearing him lie down, I resolved to open a little –a very, very little crevice in the lantern. So I opened it –you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily –until, at length a single dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and fell full upon the vulture eye.
It was open –wide, wide open –and I grew furious as I gazed upon it. I saw it with perfect distinctness –all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man’s face or person: for I had directed the ray as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot.
And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over acuteness of the senses? –now, I say, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I knew that sound well, too. It was the beating of the old man’s heart. It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.
But even yet I refrained and kept still. I scarcely breathed. I held the lantern motionless. I tried how steadily I could maintain the ray upon the eye. Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart increased. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every instant. The old man’s terror must have been extreme! It grew louder, I say, louder every moment! –do you mark me well? I have told you that I am nervous: so I am. And now at the dead hour of the night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror. Yet, for some minutes longer I refrained and stood still. But the beating grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst. And now a new anxiety seized me –the sound would be heard by a neighbor! The old man’s hour had come! With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room. He shrieked once –once only. In an instant I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done. But, for many minutes, the heart beat on with a muffled sound. This, however, did not vex me; it would not be heard through the wall. At length it ceased. The old man was dead. I removed the bed and examined the corpse. Yes, he was stone, stone dead. I placed my hand upon the heart and held it there many minutes. There was no pulsation. He was stone dead. His eye would trouble me no more.
If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body. The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence. First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs.
I then took up three planks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings. I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye — not even his –could have detected any thing wrong. There was nothing to wash out –no stain of any kind –no blood-spot whatever. I had been too wary for that. A tub had caught all –ha! ha!
When I had made an end of these labors, it was four o’clock –still dark as midnight. As the bell sounded the hour, there came a knocking at the street door. I went down to open it with a light heart, –for what had I now to fear? There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers of the police. A shriek had been heard by a neighbor during the night; suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises.
I smiled, –for what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen welcome. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream. The old man, I mentioned, was absent in the country. I took my visitors all over the house. I bade them search –search well. I led them, at length, to his chamber. I showed them his treasures, secure, undisturbed. In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.
The officers were satisfied. My manner had convinced them. I was singularly at ease. They sat, and while I answered cheerily, they chatted of familiar things. But, ere long, I felt myself getting pale and wished them gone. My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted. The ringing became more distinct: –it continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness –until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears.
No doubt I now grew very pale; –but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased –and what could I do? It was a low, dull, quick sound –much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath — and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly –more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why would they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men — but the noise steadily increased. Oh God! what could I do? I foamed –I raved –I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased. It grew louder –louder –louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God! –no, no! They heard! –they suspected! –they knew! –they were making a mockery of my horror! –this I thought, and this I think. But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision! I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die! –and now –again! –hark! louder! louder! louder! louder! –
“Villains!” I shrieked, “dissemble no more! I admit the deed! –tear up the planks! –here, here! –it is the beating of his hideous heart!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 9, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: May 23, 2009
Frances In charge
Retail support manager
Helpful Trading Co
Smalltown
2 March 2005
Dear Ms In charge,
I recently bought …(give a precise description of what you bought, including colour, model and price) in your shop in Smalltown. When I tried to use this item, I discovered that… (say what went wrong and what the product did not do).
I went back to your shop and the shop assistant, Steve Helpful, said that complaints were dealt with by your department.
I have… (say what evidence you have got)
I would like you to… (tell them exactly what you want)
I believe I am entitled to this under consumer law.
I look forward to your reply within 14 days and hope this matter can be sorted out quickly,
Yours sincerely,
Dear Ms In charge: if the person you’re writing to is female, try and find out if they’re Mrs, Miss or Ms. If you don’t know, it’s probably best to use ‘Ms’.
I have: a receipt is useful, although not essential if you can otherwise prove you bought an item in a shop (for example, by a credit card bill). You’ll also need a copy of any description made about a product if you’re claiming it’s not like its advert. But never send them the original evidence. Keep it safe and keep a copy.
I would like you to: if you act quickly you’re entitled to reject faulty goods and get a full refund. Otherwise you’re entitled to have problem goods repaired or replaced. If for some reason these remedies are inappropriate, then you’re entitled to a price reduction or refund (which takes into account wear and tear of the goods).
I believe I am entitled: unless you’re really sure about particular laws, it’s best just to hint that you know what your legal rights are and will use them if they don’t make a reasonable response. For more information see the guide to Consumer law.
Reply within 14 days: give them a deadline – 14 days is usually about right. Make a note in your diary, so that you can follow up the matter if you don’t hear within the time stated.
Jane Citizen: unless you really are concerned about your personal safety, try and give your full name and telephone number. The sooner you start communicating using first names, the sooner your complaint will be sorted out. It makes everything much more pleasant.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 19, 2009
complaining of chest painsThe neighbors complained to the police about the noise.| com·plain·er noun |
| com·plain·ing·ly adverb |
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Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 15, 2009
CLOZE TEST
Fill in each of the numbered gaps in the passage below with ONE suitable word.
Henry Adams is probably the (1) ……………… person I know. I normally envy very (2) ……………… of my friends’ jobs because I am happy with what I do, but Henry Adams is one of those rare people (3) ……………… job I would really want to have (4) ……………… .
Henry, (5) ……………… had always been interested in (6) ……………… science and animals, was studying to be a (7) ……………… , and we were at university at the same time.
When he finished, he went to London, where he looked after domestic animals, (8) ……………… as cats and dogs. He always said that he would not stay in a job like that for long because he found (9) ……………… rather boring to look after people’s (10) ………………. . So we were not very (11) ……………… when he gave up that job and went to work to London Zoo; he stayed there for two years, and in the evenings he studied because he wanted to get some higher (12) ……………… . When he passed all his exams, he (13) ……………… for a job in a game reserve in Africa. He got the job, and is now responsible (14) ……………… a large number of animals, and is in (15) ……………… of a special programme to protect (16) ……………… species.
I got a letter from him the other day asking me (17) ……………… I’d like to go out and see him for a holiday. I’ve never been (18) ……………… Kenya, and nor (19) ……………… my wife, so I wrote to say that we would love to go. We’ll be going out there at the end of August, (20) ……………… that he accepts our invitation to come over next year.
1. applied
2. both
3. charge
4. endangered
5. few
6. for
7. has
8. if
9. it
10. its
11. little
12. luckier
13. luckiest
14. myself
15. none
16. pets
17. provided
18. qualifications
19. such
20. surprised
21. surprising
22. to
23. vet
24. whether
25. who
26. whom
27. whose
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 15, 2009
Hi class!
Hope you are full of beans after the Xmas break and ready to make the most to succed in the exam. Remember you´ll be given a cloze test that is a is an exercise, test, or assessment consisting of a portion of text with certain words removed, where the participant is asked to replace the missing words.
Cloze tests require the ability to understand context and vocabulary in order to identify the correct words or type of words that belong in the deleted passages of a tex.
Imagine you were given this sentence:
Today, I went to the ________ and bought some milk and eggs. I knew it was going to rain, but I forgot to take my ________, and ended up getting wet on the way _______
“ You´d be required to fill in the blanks with words that would best complete the passage. Context in language and content terms is essential in most, if not all, cloze tests. The first blank is preceded by “the”; therefore, a noun, an adjective or an adverb must follow. However, a conjunction follows the blank; the sentence would not be grammatically correct if anything other than a noun were in the blank. The words “milk and eggs” is important for deciding which noun to put in the blank; “supermarket” is a possible answer; depending on the student, however, the first blank could either be store, supermarket, shop or market while umbrella or raincoat fit the second.
Has it helped you? Don´t forget the importance of meaning!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 18, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 22, 2009
A desert road from vegas to nowhere
some place better tham where you’re been
A coffee machine that needs some fixing
In a little cafe just around the bend
I am calling you
Can’t you hear me
I am calling you
A hot dry wind blows right through me
The baby’s crying and I can’t sleep
But we both know a change is coming
coming closer, sweet release
I am calling you
Can’t you hear me
I am calling you
I am calling you
Can’t you hear me
I am calling you
A desert road from vegas to nowhere
Some place better than where you’ve been
A coffee machine that needs some fixing
In a little cafe just around the bend
A hot dry winblows right through me
The baby’s crying and I can’t sleep
But we both know a change is coming
coming closer, sweet release
I am calling you
can’t you hear me
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 22, 2009
FAMOUS SINGERS
LEAD-IN.
1. Answer these questions.
1. Have you ever been to a rock concert? When did you go?
2. Look at the underlined words, what forms of the verb are used? What is the difference between one and the other?
3. The sentences below express the same meaning in different ways. What is the difference in use between the past simple and the present perfect?
1. Ana has been to Shakira’s concert this week / Ana went to Shakira’s concert two days ago
2. Luismi has been to a musical this month/ Luismi went to a musical last week
3. I’ve seen Robbie Williams in the street this week / I saw Robbie Williams in the street on Tuesday
PRESENT PERFECT and PAST SIMPLE:
- UNSPECIFIED/SPECIFIED TIME: Conversations often begin with the present perfect (with a general question) and then change to the simple past (with questions asking for specific details). Use the simple past to ask/say exactly WHEN something happened:
Have you ever been to London? Yes, I have
When did you go there? I went last year
- UNFINISHED/FINISHED TIME: Use the present perfect when there is a CONNECTION between the past and the present (time presented as UNFINISHED). Use the simple past when there is no connection:
I´ve washed the car this morning (it’s clean now)
I washed the car yesterday (it may be dirty again).
I´ve been to Madrid once (in my life up to now). I went there in 1998 (remote past time)
4. Fill in the gaps with either the simple past of the present perfect form of the verbs in brackets:
Mónica: Hi Carlos! Sorry, I´m late.
Carlos: Don´t worry. I ____________________(not wait) for long
Mónica: I ________________(leave) the faculty one hour ago but the bus___________(be) late
Carlos: It’s ok. ___________________(you/decide) which tickets to buy then?
Mónica: Oh, yes Carlos. I ____________(tell) that in the text I sent you two hours ago. Yesterday, I ____________(go) to the El Corte Inglés and I _______________ (buy) two tickets for Shakira’s concert.
Carlos: What? Shakira? But you know I don´t like her very much.
Mónica: Please, don´t get angry. I love Shakira´s music and I ____________________(never/ be) to any of her concerts.
Carlos: Why not Marilyn Manson? You used to like him too.
Mónica: I still like him but, you know, we _____________________(already/be) twice to his concerts.
Carlos: You’re right. Ok, then. Let’s go to Shakira’s concert, it won´t be too bad.
NAT KING COLE and NATALIE COLE
1. Read some information about the life of these singers. Put the verbs in the present perfect or past simple:
Nat King Cole won (win) many awards, including a Grammy Award in 1959 and Capitol Records “Towerof Achievement Award”. Natalie Cole ______(win) eight Grammies and many other awards for her singing. He ______(have) his own TV show in 1956 and _______(appear) in a number of movies. She ______(appear) in several TV specials and TV movies.
Natalie Cole _______(receive) a degree in psychology from the University of Massachusetts in 1972. She ______ (live) mostly in California since then. She ________(be) a recording artist for more than 25 years. She recorded her first album, “Inseparable”, 1975. With that album she ________(win) two Grammy Awards in 1976.
Her remarkable album, “Unforgettable with love” _____(come) out in 1991. On it, she sings a “duet” with her father’s voice of the song “Unforgettable”. Since then, the album _______(sell) over 5 million copies.
2. You’re going to watch the clip of Natalie’s 1991 Unforgettable. Hope you enjoy it!
Unforgettable, that’s what you are
Unforgettable though near or far
Like a song of love that clings to me
How the thought of you does things to me
Never before has someone been more
Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that’s how you’ll stay
That’s why, darling, it’s incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too
Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that’s how you’ll stay
That’s why, darling, it’s incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 22, 2009
FOR OR AGAINST PIRACY?
LEAD-IN
Millions of people daily download music, films and books from websites. Are you for or against piracy?
1. You’re going to watch 2 advertisements: One is against piracy and the other is for it. In pairs take notes the arguments the ads. give for and against illegal downloading. Think of two more arguments for and against piracy
Useful language: download, upload, share, care, legal, illegal, steal, the law.
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AGAINST |
FOR |
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2. Read a newspaper article about Radiohead’s measure to fight piracy: Radiohead’s fans pay £2.90 for digital album- You´ll be given a copy of this text in class.
3. Are these statements true or false according to the text?
1. The record industry is not doing well T/F
2. Less than 50% of people downloaded Radiohead’s album for free T/F
3. The album was cheaper on Apple’s iTune website T/F
4. Sales of live concert tickets are increasing T/F
5. Recently, CD sales have been decreasing T/F
6. A higher percentage of people download for free in the USA than everywhere else T/F
7. There are currently more illegal music downloads than legal downloads T/F
8. Radiohead’s experiment was a failure T/F
4. Match these words from the article with the definitions.
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Handling charge struggling era honesty box ultimately remaining reveal |
1. We use this word to talk about a particular period of time. ___________________
2. When a company experiences finantial difficulties, it is said to be ______________
3. When you give information that was not known before, you ________________ it.
4. A ___________is a fee that a shop charges you when they send your goods to you.
5. ____________ means the same as in the end, or finally
6. When something is ________ it is the amount that is still left.
7. An _________is a container into which the seller hopes the buyer will place money.
FOLLOW-UP: WHOLE CLASS DEBATE
“Are you for or against piracy?”
GROUP A: You’re IN FAVOUR OF piracy. Think and take notes of as many arguments as you can to support your position.
GROUP A: You’re AGAINST piracy. Think and take notes of as many arguments as you can to support your position.
USEFUL LANGUAGE
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To agree: I agree with you, that’s right, you’re right, there is a lot in what you say… To disagree: I can´t see you point, you can´t be serious, that’s not right, you’re wrong, I disagree.. |
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To introduce an example: For example, for instance, such as
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To contrast: However, but
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To introduce a consequence or result: so, thus
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HOMEWORK: A FOR and AGAINST composition
At home, read the instructions below and write a composition on piracy in 150 words.
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Introduction: present the general situation of the topic mentioned Nowadays the magazines that sell the most are ones like “Hello” or “In Touch”, which tell us about celebrities’ lives. It seems that everybody is interested in them, and that most people would really like to be famous. However, there are advantages and disadvantages in being famous.
Points for: Arguments in favour of the main topic The main advantage of being famous is probably the lifestyle fame offers you. Most celebrities are very rich and can afford big mansions with swimming pools, and expensive cars. Besides, they spend a lot of time travelling, visiting different countries, and staying in luxurious hotels.
Points against: Arguments against the main topic On the other hand, there are disadvantages. Every time famous people go out, they are surrounded by fans and photographers. As a result, it is very difficult to for them to have a normal private life. What’s more, they often can’t spend much time at home as they have to travel a lot (to make a film or do a concert tour)
Conclusion: Logical consequence or summary of the points analysed. Do not add new information in the conclusion In conclusion/To conclude/ To sum up, famous people may enjoy life with luxuries of all sorts but privacy is too valuable to be lost for money. Therefore, even if I had the chance, I would not like to be famous no matter how rich I could be. |
USEFUL CONNECTORS
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To list advantages and disadvantages: The main advantage/disadvantage is… Another advantage/disadvantage is… Firstly, Secondly, To begin with/ First of all |
To add more points related to one idea: Besides/ Moreover/ What is more/ In addition Also /Too/ as well as… As regards/Regarding Not only…but |
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To introduce an example: For example, for instance, such as, namely (followed by a name)
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To contrast: However, but, yet, on the other hand, nevertheless
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To introduce a consequence or result: therefore, thus, as a result, so
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To introduce the conclusion: To sum up, as a conclusion, in conclusion, to conclude |
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- List the points for and against before you start writing
- Back up your points with reasons and examples
- Learn and use connectors to link paragraphs and ideas within paragraphs.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 22, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 22, 2009
Stay at the Ritz-Carlton in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and you’ll bed down in a 430-square-foot room with a large marble bath and deep soaking tub, a flat screen television, and skyline views of the city.
When it’s time for breakfast, a butler will serve you an omelet made to order, piping hot toast and freshly squeezed orange juice. Since the property is situated in the heart of the city, you can walk to all the major shopping and sightseeing.
But perhaps the best part about shacking up here? It’s cheap. The room described above costs $200 a night. Can you afford it?
See you in class!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 27, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 28, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: January 29, 2009
By inclassnumbernine.
Here we have a website where you can listen to a text in several laguages, English, German, Spanish…
First, you have to write the text which you’re going to hear.
Then, you have to choose the language and if you want a male or a female voice.
Finally, you have to click on play and a window will be open. There you can listen to the text that you have written as many times as you want.
It’s so easy.
http://tts.loquendo.com/ttsdemo/default.asp?page=id&voice=Susan
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 10, 2009
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DATE |
TIME |
NAME STUDENT A |
NAME STUDENT B |
NAME STUDENT C |
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February, Tuesday, 10th |
19.20 |
María Abal |
Magalí Mejia |
Andrea Cortés |
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February, Tuesday, 10th |
19.35 |
Laura Ansótegui |
Noelia Blanco |
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February, Tuesday, 10th |
19.50 |
Mercedes Barredo |
Carlos Pinedo |
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February, Tuesday 10th |
20.05 |
Sara Bastida |
Miriam Delgado
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February, Tuesday 10th |
20.20 |
Sandra Castillo |
Zara García |
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February |
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M T W Th F S Sd 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1718 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 |
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Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 11, 2009
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DATE |
TIME |
NAME STUDENT A |
NAME STUDENT B |
NAME STUDENT C |
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February, Thursday, 12th |
19.20 |
Irma Castro |
Sara Soto |
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February, Thursday, 12th |
19.35 |
Sandra Clemente |
Sandra Díez |
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February, Thursday, 12th |
19.50 |
Victor Fernández |
Quique Santamaría |
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February, Thursday 12th |
20.05 |
Olga Fraidias |
Ricardo Puente
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February, Thursday 12th |
20.20 |
Belén Horcajo |
Jorge Martínez |
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February |
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M T W Th F S Sd 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 |
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Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 3, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 3, 2009
Hi class! How are you doing? Let me post this info specially addressed for the daring students who enjoy writing!!!
YOU´LL BE GIVEN SOME MINI SAGAS IN CLASS BUT IN THE MEANTIME, LET ME EXPLAIN SOMETHING…
The minisaga is a recent invention. It was started in 1998 by the Daily Telegraph newspaper and followed up by the BBC who broadcast the results on the radio.
The name is really a joke. Originally, sagas were long stories of dramatic events over many generations told by Norse and Icelandic peoples. They were probably started to provide entertainment around the fire during the long winter nights in those countries. Today we gather round the television and watch soap operas which tell long stories of dramatic events over many generations…
A minisaga must be exactly fifty words long and it must be a real story. The title is very important so the rule is that any title can be up to fifteen words long.
The limitation of fifty words means that the minisaga writer needs to think very imaginatively about just hatwords are really necessary to tell the story.
ARE YOU DARING????????????’
Here are three key tips to help you when writing your minisaga:
• Get a good idea. This is the most important start you can make.
Brainstorm simple ideas based on situations you know about. Make sure that you have just one or two characters – you won’t need more. Your idea should focus on something simple. If this doesn’t give you a starting point, discuss some story structures with a partner. Can you work out a story idea from real life that could be shaped into a simple structure?
• When you start don’t worry about the fifty word limit to begin with.
Concentrate on getting the narrative right. Then look at the words and phrases you can ‘tighten up’ so that every word counts.
• Don’t use the “I woke up and it was all a dream” ending! This almost always makes the reader feel cheated.
Good luck!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 5, 2009
NATASHA BEDINGFIELD:
“Unwritten” (2004)
Listen to “Unwritten”. Underline all the words with negative prefixes. E.g unwritten
I am unwritten, Can’t read my mind I’m undefined
I’m just beginning The pen’s in my hand Ending unplanned
Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words That you could not find Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it Release your inhibitions
CHORUS
Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten, yeah Oh, oh I break tradition
Sometimes my tries Are outside the lines, oh yeah yeah
We’ve been conditioned To not make mistakes
But I can’t live that way oh, oh Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it Release your inhibitions
CHORUS
Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words That you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
CHORUS.
NEGATIVE PREFIXES
Which negative prefix would you use with these adjectives?
ambitious friendly honest imaginative kind organized patient reliable responsible selfish sensitive
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 6, 2009
Who in your class should win awards for the following categories. Think of two more categories
. 1. Best attendance category
2. The most useful contributions
3. Always doing the homework
4. Best lesson this term/semester
5. Most memorable comment.
6. ____________________
7. ___________________
Don’t forget to say the magic phrase: And the Oscar goes to…
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 10, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 10, 2009
ANALYSING TRAILERS
A TRAILER is a short filmed advertisement for a feature film.
It uses highlights from the film with graphics and voice-over commentaries.
After watching the trailer answer these questions.
Which devices do you find most effective to draw the audience attention?
Do you think they make you feel like watching the film?
Which is the best / worst trailer you´ve ever seen? Why?
How could you improve those aspects you didn´t particularly like?
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 10, 2009
DRAGONS
Dragons are fascinating, magical creatures who have captivated our attention for many years. The many different kinds of dragons and the ability for us to use our imagination to create these creatures only adds to their appeal. Many stories have been told about these great beings and it seems like dragons are a part of our mythical history. Whether these creatures are or ever were real probably doesn’t matter due to the fact that the imagination can create them in almost any situation.
A LEGEND ON A DRAGON AND A PRINCE…
In the Middle Ages, the most rewowned tournaments of poetry in all of France were held at the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Celebrated troubadours gathered there to demonstrate their art, and once a year the winner of this poetic joust was announced.
On one occasion, the winner was an unknown and very handsome young man, who refuse to give his name or say where he came from, despite the entreaties of Eleanor herself. The aura of mystery surrounding the anonymous troubadour, together with his kindness and beauty, soon made him one of the favorites among the ladies of the court. Griselda, a young and wistful maiden, the youngest daughter of the lord of Foix, fell passionately in love with the knight and declared fer love for him. Moved by the maiden’s entreaties, the troubadour agreed to marry her in secret and take her to his home, but on condition that Griselda should never try to see him other than when he chose, and that she should never try to discover his secret.
The lovesick lady promised to comply with this strange condition. It seemed little to ask in exchange for being able to remain with her loved one.
One night, the young Griselda had fallen asleep in the arms of her lover in the castle of Eleanor of Aquitaine where she lived, and on opening her eyes she found herself in an unfamiliar room. It was luxurious place, adorned with silk and precious stones, and beside her lay her husband smiling benignly at her.
“You are in my house, which belongs to you,” said the troubadour. “You may give orders to my servants and do whatever you please. There are stables with horses at your disposal, huntsmen and hawks for hunting, and you may go as you wish. You are my lady, and all that is mine is yours. There are maidens ready to serve you and to carry out your every whim, dancers and musicians to entertain you, jewels and silks to adorn you. If you need anything, tell me and I will give it to you.”
“I wish only for the love of my lord,” replied the young woman, bewildered.
“That is good, my love, but do not forget your promise.”
Griselda, full of happiness, demonstrated her compliance by flinging herself into the arms of her beloved husband.
For a while the lady kept her promise and believed she was in paradise. The troubadour knight, who was kind and passionate, spent most of his time with his wife. Occasionally he would disapear into a locked room, and she, faithful to her promise, did not ask him any questions. However, curiosity gradually got the better of her. One day she decided to find out the secret of her knight. She crept up to the door of the forbidden room, which he had left ajar, and spied through the chink. Horrified, she watched as the troubadour turned into a huge dragon with green scales and powerful wings. She could not prevent a cry of horror escaping her lips. The dragon prince wheeled round, and saw his terrified wife in the doorway. Deeply hurt by this betrayal, the knight bade his servants remove Griselda immediatly to the court of Aquitaine, and never again did he turn to see her.
The lady could not forget her beloved, and not a day went by without her recalling the months of happiness beside the gentle dragon. Full of repentance and sadness, she wrote down her adventure; that is how the famous story of the dragon prince has found its way to us.
Hope you have enjoyed the story!
See you in class!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 16, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 10, 2009
WATCH THIS VIDEO TO DO THE TASKS!!!!
Pre-listening activity #1 – Revising prepositions
Here are 18 different prepositions. Which ones describe movement and which ones describe place? Remember that some of them can describe both movement and place!
IN / ON / AT / THROUGH / NEXT TO / ALONG / UP
OVER / PAST / ACROSS / TO / INTO / UNDER / DOWN
TOWARDS / OFF / ROUND
COLDPLAY : THE SCIENTIST
Pre-listening activity #2
Things move in mysterious ways
How does each of the following things usually move? Use the adverbs
FORWARDS, BACKWARDS, SIDEWAYS, UPWARDS, and
DOWNWARDS. The first one has been completed as an example:
1. a lift: upwards and downwards
2. an elevator: ………………
3. a car: ………
4. a bicycle: …………………
5. a motorbike: ………………………
6. a crab: ……………
7. a horse: ……………
8. a hot air balloon: ………
9. a person on foot: ……………
10. a bird: ……………
11. time: …………
12. a video cassette: ………
13. a person on a ladder: …….
Put the following events into the order they appear in the video. What do you think happens at the end of the video? Why?
HE WAS LYING ON A MATTRESS
HE WAS IN A FOREST
HE CROSSED A RAILWAY TRACK
HE WAS WALKING ALONG A STREET
THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE PLAYING BASKETBALL
Activity #2
Now watch version 2 of the video clip as many times as you like. Check if you were right about what happens at the end of the video, and listen carefully to fill in the gaps in the lyrics.
COLDPLAY – THE SCIENTIST (from A rush of Blood to the Head, 2002)
Come up to meet you, tell you I’m sorry
You _______________ how lovely you are.
I ________ to find you, tell you I need you,
Tell you I set you apart.
Tell me your secrets and ________ me your questions,
Oh lets go back to the start.
__________ in circles, coming up tails
Heads on a science apart.
Nobody ________ it was easy,
It’s such a shame for us to part.
Nobody said it was easy,
_________ ever said it would be this hard.
I was just guessing at ___________ and figures,
Pulling your puzzles apart.
__________ of science, science and progress
Did not speak as loud as my heart.
And tell me you love ________, come _______ and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start.
Running in circles, chasing up tails
Coming back as we are
Nobody __________ it was easy,
Oh it’s such a shame for us to part.
Nobody said it was easy,
__________ ever said it would be so hard.
I’m going back to the start.
Vocabulary:
– hard = difficult
– it’s a shame = es una pena
– “heads” and “tails” = cara y cruz
– to part = to separate
– to rush = to go fast, to be in a hurry
– to pull apart = desmontar
– to guess = adivinar
– mattress = the soft part of the bed
Activity #3
Now you can watch and listen to the subtitled version of the song. Do these two activities:
a. Check the solutions to activity 2 (fill in the gaps)
b. Practice your pronunciation: sing along with the song
Choose your favourite line from the song. Why do you like it?
Activity #4
Writing exercise (for ambitious learners): Write a short story (maximum 150 words) based on the story told in the video and in the lyrics of the song. You can, of course, add your own ideas.
Writing exercise (for less ambitious learners): write a series of sentences, each one using a preposition of place or movement (see pre-listening activity #1), describing the video clip (i.e. “He was lying on a mattress, then he got up. …”).
You can use these verbs and prepositions, among others: lying down / get up /
stand up / walk along / jump over / stop next to / jump over / go past / go
across / run up /walk through / sit down / (put on) / walk towards / lying
on / get into.
WRITE YOUR TEXT and SUBMIT IT.
Hope you enjoy these tasks!
See you in class! And remember to make the most of your lives! Enjoy “Viva la Vida”!
From the Album: Viva la vida or death and all his friends
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing:
“Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!”
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of sand, pillars of sand
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain
Once you go there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world
It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in.
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn’t believe what I’d become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh, who would ever want to be king?
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
(Ohhhhh Ohhh Ohhh)
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Oooooh Oooooh Oooooh
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 11, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 11, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 11, 2009
CAPTION- brief text accompanying an illustration or photo.
Can you write some captions for this picture? Don´t forget to submit them. Best one will get a prize. You just have a week!!!
an
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 11, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 16, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 16, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 16, 2009
RHYTHM AND INTONATION IN CONNECTED SPEECH
Intonation: “the music of language” – the way the voice goes up and down as we speak. Relationship between intonation and mood. Two basic intonation patterns:
1. Falling Intonation
She doesn ‘t want to dance.
I‘d like to dance.
Yes/No questions
Can you type? Do you like coffee?
Orders and Suggestions
Wh questions
Exclamatory sentences
Have another drink
Who did she marry?
What a lovely doy!
2.Rising Intonation
Commands and requests |
Questions showing enthusiasm, concern,excitement..
Open the door, please
How old is he? Who told you that?
QUESTION TAGS.
Rising: the speaker is sure about the answer eg: You are n´t English, are you?
Falling: the speaker needs confirmation; it is like a real question eg: You are not English, are you?
TIME FOR YOU TO PRACTISE…
Relating intonation from situational context. Draw arrows in each sentence to show the intonation patten used in this conversation beteen a policeman ans a student:
P: What’s your name?
S: Dorothy.
P: What’s your full ñame?
S: Dorothy Pilkinson.
P: Where do you live?
S: I live here, in London.
P: What’s your address?
S: 15 park Towers. Oíd Park Lane.
P: What’s your telephone number?
S:13325695
P: Do you often come to this disco?
S: Twice a week
P: Have you got many friends here?
S: Just a few.
P: Do you drink alcohol?
S: It depends…
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 16, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 16, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 17, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 16, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 20, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 20, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: February 25, 2009
Thanks so much for your messages! Just let me tell you something… It´s very comforting and satisfying to receive messages like those I´ve been sent. I promise I´ll keep on working on our blog as I´ve received some requests. I hope you find it always helpful. That has been my aim as a teacher.
LOOKING BACKWARDS AND WITH A VIEW TO THE FUTURE… You know you never get a second chance to make a first impression. .. Just three months there! Time flies! During my time in Miranda, I´ve tried to work on your motivation that is a concept limited to self-confidence: my role as a teacher has been to help you gain that self-confidence which I believe it is essential when putting together thoughts in another language, that is to say, when communicating. I needed this blog to help me achieve this goal…Have I succeeded? We´ll see! It is time now to focus on how effective this blog has been. There is STILL a term left and NOW, emphasis should be on RESULTS. Hope you all the best and please, keep your motivation HIGH! Keep me posted. Will you?
See you in virtual class number nine!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 7, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 7, 2009
What colour do you feel today? I hope you are not blue. Hope you like this video on idioms and colours.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 9, 2009
The Shortest Stories Ever
LEAD-IN: In pairs, discuss the following questions:
a) What is the shortest story you have ever read?
b) What was its approximate length?
c) Can you imagine a story in fifty words?
BEFORE READING:
1) You’re going to listen to a story told in exactly fifty words. Listen carefully and try to guess the last two words:
H___________B___________!
Peter had just arrived home. It was late in the evening. The front door was open; everything was dark and quiet. “Where’s everybody?” he wondered. Panic-stricken, he run upstairs but found nobody. He came downstairs again and as he entered the living room he heard all them shouting H___________B__________!
2) This story is called “mini-saga”. Read the information about the history of mini-sagas and answer the questions below:
|
A mini-saga is a very short story and it was invented by the well-known science-fiction writer Brian Aldiss. He was working on a very long novel at the time (three volumes) and he suddenly had the idea that it might be fun as a complete contrast, to try to tell a whole story in only fifty words. From 1988 till 1999 British newspaper The Daily Telegraph organized a mini-saga competition. The best stories were published yearly in book form. The rules are simple: The text must be 50 words exactly and it must tell a story. |
1. What is a mini saga?
2. Whose idea was it? What made him think of it?
3. What are the rules?
WHILE READING (adapted from English File Upper Intermediate)
1) You’re going to read eight mini-sagas. Read them carefully with the glossary and guess the missing words:
Glossary of terms: Story 1: vanish (disappear). Story 2: laundry (clothes that need washing); Story 3: stab (push the knife into). Story 4: prefects (children at school that have special responsibilities), bully (tease, torment); chin up! (be brave!). Story 5: rip apart: break into pieces; vile (awful, horrible); grubby (dirty). Story 6: burglar (a person who steals from houses). Story 7: begging (ask for something intensely); stepped on board (took a step and entered a vessel). Story 8: snarled (made an angry face); slam (close with a loud noise); hissed (made a noise like a snake); “Just my luck!” (set expression meaning “I’m so unlucky”).
They collided in St. Mark’s Square. As they apologized, in their different languages, he sensed that something had passed between them. His heart had been touched. In that second, something almost magical had occurred. He watched her vanish amongst the gathering of people and pigeons. She had _________his wallet. |
When Sally found a man’s sock curled among her clean clothes at the local launderette she returned it to the tall dark man with a shy smile. They met there every week for several months, then were seen no more. One of their wedding presents had been a _________. |
|
3 Revenge is sweet They had been arguing bitterly the night before. He had come in from the garage with oil on his shoes. Fed up, desperate, she stabbed him. Horrified at what she had done, she drove away from the house along the cliff road. Suddenly, she realized that the brakes weren’t _________. |
1955 Dear Mummy I hate this boarding school.Food awful, prefects bully me. Please take me home.Love, David Dear David Nonsense! Chin up. Mother
1997 Dear David I hate this home. Food awful, nurses treat me like a child. Fetch me immediately. Mother Dear Mother _________! Chin up. David |
An explosion ripped the Louvre apart. Many masterpieces were destroyed in the act of terrorism. “Who would profit from such a vile attack?” the newspapers demanded. But a small boy ran off with a trophy in his grubby hand. Now over his bed hangs the smile of the _______________. |
Sergeant Boxwell knew he had caught the burglar at last. “You don’t have to say anything at all,” he told him, “but your footprints were found at the scene of eleven burglaries”. Then, triumphantly, “Have you got anything to say?” “Only this, “replied the suspect”. “Yesterday, I ____________those boots”. |
She recognized the writing on the envelope immediately. The gypsy had warned her that she had no future with this man, yet here he was, five lonely years after their last meeting, begging her to join him in New York. She felt unbelievably happy as she stepped on board the ___________. |
The vampire snarled, and folded his black silk cloak around him before slamming the coffin lid shut. “Just my luck”, he hissed. It had seemed a good idea to leave his castle for Greenland and lots of healthy unsuspecting Eskimos. Nobody at Transylvanian Tours Ltd. Had mentioned the midnight_____________. |
2) Compare and discuss your predictions in pairs/groups. Once you check the answers discuss the following questions:
a) Which mini-saga did you like best? Why?
b) Apart from the number of words, what do the stories have in common?
AFTER READING: “Write a mini-saga!”
Your story must be 50 words exactly (not including the title). Hyphenated words can be counted as one word or two, at your discretion.) In addition, it must carry a title of no more than 15 words, which will, ideally, set the scene and illuminate or counterpoint the text.
Most important, your story must be a narrative text (you can include direct speech). Something must happen, preferably something which will keep the reader thinking. Fifty dazzlingly deployed words of description or reflection will not do.
1. Think of a plot (and of a final twist!)
2. Write a first draft without worrying about the number of words.
3. Now count the words and try to cut or add words until the story has exactly 50 words.
4. Bring it to class!
FOLLOW-UP:
Your mini-sagas can be published online. Visit the link below and submit your story!
- http://minisagas.pbwiki.com/
BEFORE READING: Happy Birthday!
WHILE READING:
1) stolen 2) washing machine 3) fixed 4) nonsense 5) Monalisa 6) bought 7) Titanic 
sun
MINI SAGA CONTEST
BASES
- All students of Intermediate 1 level can participate.
- Your story must be 50 words exactly (not including the title).
The title should have no more than 15 words, which will, ideally, set the scene and illuminate or counterpoint the story.
Most important, your story must have a beginning, a middle and an end. Something must happen, preferably something which will keep the reader thinking.
- Deadline: March, 20th.
- Prize: It´s worth!!!! You´ll see!!
Good luck! Me and your own classmates will vote the best story which will be awarded .
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 9, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 9, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 9, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 9, 2009
Hi there,
It´s Laura and this is just to say hello.
Are you working hard? I hope so!
Best of luck for this term!
C U in virtual class n. 9! Cheers!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 9, 2009
Graphology : A Documentary
Before Watching
is the study and analysis of handwriting especially in relation to human psychology. In the medical field, it can be used to refer to the study of handwriting as an aid in diagnosis and tracking of diseases of the brain and nervous system. The term is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to forensic document examination. Graphology has been a controversial field for more than a century. Although supporters point to the anecdotal evidence of thousands of positive testimonials as a reason to use it for personality evaluation, most empirical studies fail to show the validity claimed by its supporters.
1.
What does your handwriting say about you?
| UPPER ZONE
|
| MIDDLE ZONE
|
| LOWER ZONE
|
2. _________________________________________________
Did that information turn out to be correct or not?
How does Sheila go about her analysis?
According to Randy Gibson, what is the difference between graphology and forensic document examination?
N GROUPS (3): You’ve listened to different opinions about graphology.
Are you more interested in this area after having watched the video and discussed it? Would you buy the book at all?
Sheila Lowe’s comment:
If you want to learn the basic principles of graphology…
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 10, 2009
DATING DATING…
LEAD-IN:
In pairs, decide whether you agree with the following statements:
1. Love at first sight does not exist.
2. Men should always take the initiative (ask for a date, pay the bill, etc) when dating someone.
3. To start a serious relationship you need to date someone no less than five times.
For each picture choose one of the phrases below. Be ready to explain why you chose it!
___ “Okay, I admit the photo wasn’t that recent, and I’m not really a male model. But everything else is true!”
___ “I’m sorry Chris, but I need a man I can believe in.”
___ “I’ve been sitting here for ages now and not one chick has shown the slightest interest in me… I knew I shouldn’t have worn this damn tie!”
___ “To tell you the truth Susan, on our first date I was hoping things to go a little slower”
___ “It’s just that when I said ‘Bring a date’…”
___ “I hope I’m not boring you with these old stories of mine.”
“ELEMENTARY COURTING FOR MEN”
Glossary: issue, misguided , of all costs, to brag, to overdo, to escort, to court, to lead, to tuck someone in.
Watch the video and answer the questions below:
1. Where does the “Elementary Courting for Men” course take place? How many people have attended the course?
2. What’s the first step to follow when taking a girl out for the first time?
3. How should one behave at a restaurant?
4. According to the instructor, who should pay the bill?
5. What’s the best excuse for leaving a disco?
Instructor: Good evening, and welcome to the Aston University Huntington theater . For this is the second part of our course in elementary courting for men. May I say how pleased I am with tonight turnout with some 800 people which is very gratifying.
Tonight we will look at the first date, obviously, taking out a girl for the first time is a very complex issue. The first crucial step is having arranged to pick up your date not to look a complete idiot when she opens the door.
Best to look as though your attention has been momentarily distracted
But when you do notice her, it is vital to say how pretty she is looking straight away.But, don’t overdo it.
If at this point, you are introduced to her parents at this point, attitude is all important. You can be too casual…But you can also be too keen…When you say goodbye to the parents, again don’t overdo it.Lead her to your car…and remember to open her door.
Once in the car, there are various ways of driving. If you drive like this….
You might lose her respect. But if you drive like this…
You should have taken a taxi. Before long you will arrive at the restaurant. Get out of the car……and escort her to your table. Then tuck her in to her seat…yourself….…and attract the waiter’s attention.
Selecting from the wine list is important. Complete ignorance is not good.
When the bottle arrives, there is much to be made of the tasting of the wine….but, don’t be too professional.
With eating, again, moderation is the order of the day. Don’t eat too fast…
But don’t eat too slowly, either.
Next is receiving the bill. This is very important moment. You must be sure not to lose your cool. This is right…This, is wrong…
The girl may, of course, offer to pay herself….In which case, you should, of course, refuse.For a while….
Next up is a fashionable dance club.
Once inside you might look slightly strange if you try to talk over the music. So stand casually and look sexy.
This is good….This is better…This is starting to be misguided…
After stance, dance technique is most important. Most people don’t know how to dance, so they do too much….
Other people do too little…Some people dance as if there was something at their bottom.
And other people dance as if there was something coming out of their bottom
When all’s said and done, it’s best probably not to dance at all. Well mimed sports injury is always useful and a good excuse for leaving the discotheque . If you don’t utterly fail it up, 20 minutes later you should back at your place. It’s important to relax and make your guest feel at home. She will probably feel as nervous as you do and there is no need to make any extra special efforts.
Then, putting on the music. We can’t help you with the choice of CD…
You know, no matter what the circumstances, Donnie and Marie Oslman’s greatest hits would be a mistake
Of all costs, avoid the temptation to brag about your stereo.
Now comes the moment you’ve been waiting for: the seduction. This is the subject of next week’s lecture.
However is a rough guy, this is right.And this is, I think you’ll agree, disastrous…
LOVE IDIOMS: Mix and Match
|
Idioms and collocations |
Definitions |
|
To cheat on someone Peter is cheating on his wife |
young love, love between children or teenagers
|
|
Throw yourself at him. Be a little reserved, not so obvious. Don’t throw yourself at him. |
Kiss and hug, make love |
|
Sweep you off your feet. Andre is very charming. He will sweep you off your feet. |
Sudden feeling of love or romance
|
|
Puppy love Puppy love is sweet, but it’s just a step on the path to mature love. |
To have extra-marital relations. To deceive someone |
|
Love conquers all. When the family was reunited, Mom said, “Love conquers all.” |
People do not see the faults in their lovers.
|
|
Love is blind. She can’t see his bad habits because love is blind. |
love is strong enough to overcome all problems |
|
Making whoopee Tony and Vicky were making whoopee when we walked in. |
try too hard to impress him, push your love on him
|
|
A crush onJudy has a crush on Tim. See the way she looks at him. |
impress you, cause you to love them quickly |
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 11, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 11, 2009
No-one is sure how it originated, but it was first used with its current meaning around 1915. All of the words below are associated with it. Can you guess the word?
The American Dialect Society named it the Word of the Twentieth Century.
Complete the text with the words below.
Fifty years ago, on the afternoon of March 2, 1959, seven (1)………………………………………….started recording the most successful jazz record of all time. The musicians at the (2) ……………………….were tenor saxophonist John Coltrane, alto saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, pianists Bill Evans and Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers, drummer Jimmy Cobb and, last but not least, trumpeter (3)………………………….. Davis.
The album was called Kind of (4)……………………………………………. ,the biggest-selling classic jazz album ever. If you don’t know much about jazz music, then this is the album to listen to. It’s so (5) ………………………………………………, Clint Eastwood used it in two of his films. In Runaway Bride Julia Roberts gives an original (6) ……………………copy to Richard Gere. It’s an essential CD in any collection. According to hip-hop artist and rapper Q-Tip, “It’s like the Bible – you just have one in your house.”
In 1959 Miles Davis was 32 years old and an international jazz star. He was already experimenting with a new type of (7) …………….jazz when he started working with pianist Bill Evans. Evans introduced Davis to classical composers, such as Béla Bartók and Maurice Ravel, who greatly influenced his music.
They wrote down a few (8) ……………………together before going into Columbia Records’ 30th Street Studio with the other musicians. Miles Davis wanted the musicians to (9) …………………………..and record the tracks in one take to be spontaneous and fresh. They started (10)………………. and recorded “Freddie Freeloader”, “So What”, and “Blue in Green”, the first side of the LP. They didn’t record again until April 22, seven weeks later, when they completed the album with “Flamenco Sketches” and “All Blues”. One of the reasons the album is so successful is because its relaxed (11)………….. makes it easy to listen to.
When the album was released in August 1959 it became an instant (12) …………………… Today, many critics call it the greatest jazz album of all time.
cats
classic
cool
gig
groove
improvise
jamming
melodic
blue
Miles
notes
vinyl
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 16, 2009
The emerald isle 4:06 podcastsinenglish.com level 3 podcast
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 16, 2009
vest [vest] nombre
1 GB camiseta
2 US chaleco
Phrasal Verbs
log in, log on v + adv (Comput) entrar (al sistema) log off, log out v + adv (Comput) salir(conj.⇒) (del sistema)
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 16, 2009
Personal identification: professional life, foreign languages, religion, housing, home and environment (outskirts, suburbs, rural areas). Jobs and professional life: professional tasks and activities, the workplace, working hours and conditions. Free time and current affairs: description of leisure time activities and cultural events (sports, cinema, reading habits, etc), current affairs. Transports and travelling: entering and leaving a country, planning holidays, tourism (travel agency, monuments, etc). Human and social relations: types of social relationships (cordiality, conflict…). Forms of address. Health and body care: body position and movements, sensations, health services, accidents and injuries, symptoms and diseases, addictions and drugs. Education: school activities, subjects, degrees and certificates, education services (registration, grants), evaluation and exams. Shopping and trade: addressing shop-assistants, buying and selling, etc. Food: eating out, types of food and drink, dishes, products, catering staff. Climate and weather conditions; the environment: adjectives to describe nature, parts of a city, flora and fauna, environmental problems. Science and technology: instructions to use basic equipment, media and information technology.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 21, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 21, 2009
I live on a street called Hillcrest. It is a beautiful street where each house seems to stand on it’s own little hill like royalty. There are trees literally everywhere. 415 is my house. It looks is the king of Hillcrest, you would know by just looking at it.
The living room is the first room when entering the house. This room is filled with very lively furniture. Comfortable, tan leather couches, colorful rugs over the bare wood floor, and a large display case with pictures, books, and many memories of friends and family. And I mustn’t forget about the enormous window that, during the day, will let as much sunlight and energy in the room as it possibly can.
My sister’s room is just as colorful if not more. The walls are purple and there are crazy chalk drawings on some of them. Her room is also decorated with strange little trinkets like little wooden boxes, incense burners, and her own artwork. I don´t really go much there,
My parent’s room is right next to my sister’s room. There’s not much of anything good in there. A boring bed, a couple of dressers, a boring nightstand, and a boring closet is all that is in there. I don’t visit that room much either.Mainly for privacy.
I often dream about leaving this place and finding my own place to live. Like an apartment. It would be a crummy place, but it would be mine. It would have a T.V., a DVD player, a stereo system, and all of my books, comics, CDs, video games and my Gamecube, and my guitars. It would also have just some basic furniture like a table, a couch, some chairs, and my room with my bed in it. That would be very nice.
My room is in the basement. Not much but sleeping going on in my room. It looks cool though. The walls are plastered with posters of bands I like and concerts I’ve been to. And the whole room is littered with Spawn toys.
Can you continue describing it?
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Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 21, 2009
| “Books and friends should be few but good.”"A friend in need is a friend indeed.” - Latin Proverb “A good friend is my nearest relation.” “A hedge between keeps friendship green.” “God defend me from my friends; from my enemies I can defend myself.” “Love is blind; friendship closes its eyes.” “Love is blind. Friendship tries not to notice.” “The best of friends must part.” “Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from your friend’s forehead.” “To have a friend, be a friend.” ”The death of a friend is equivalent to the loss of a limb.” “Life without a friend is like death without a witness.” “The best mirror is an old friend.” “May there always be work for your hands to do, may your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine on your windowpane, may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.” “A cheerful friend is like asunny day spreading brightness all around.” “THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF SHIPS. THERE ARE WOODEN SHIPS ,PLASTIC SHIPS, AND METAL SHIPS. BUT THE BEST AND MOST IMPORTAINT TYPES OF SHIPS ARE FRIENDSHIPS.” “The only unsinkable ship is FRIENDSHIP.” ” A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one’s heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away.” ”It is better to be in chains with friends , than to be in a garden with strangers.”
|
http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/englishfile/intermediate/
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 22, 2009
Correct the sentences above and complete the ones below.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 22, 2009
|
HAIR
|
GENERAL APPEARANCE |
SHOULDER-LENGTH HAIR |
HE´S GOT RECEDING HAIR |
|
|
NOSE
|
MOUTH |
HER HAIR IS PUSHED BACK BEHIND HER EARS |
HE USED TO HAVE LONG HAIR THAT IS NOW GOING GREY AND A FEW STRANDS OF HAIR ARE COMBED OVER HIS HEAD. HE IS ALMOST BALD. |
|
|
EYES
|
CHIN |
SHE´S GOT A FRINGE |
HE´S GOT SIDEBURNS |
|
|
COMPLEXION
|
PERSONAL QUALITIES |
SHE HAS REDDISH HIGHLIGHTS IN HER BLONDE CURLY HAIR |
HE´S GOT A GOATEE. |
|
|
HEIGHT
|
SHE´S GOT A TURNED-UP NOSE |
SHE IS MEDIUM-HEIGHT |
HE IS TALLISH |
|
|
WEIGHT
|
HE´S GOT A POINTED NOSE |
SHE IS SLIM, SLENDER |
HE IS FIT, WELL-BUILT, NOT OVERWEIGHT. |
|
|
SHE´S CASUALLY-DRESSED, BUT STILL ELEGANT. |
SHE IS A GREEN-EYED WOMAN |
SHE IS IN HER LATE-THIRTIES. |
HE IS IN HIS EARLY FORTIES. |
|
|
NATIONALITY
|
HE HAS GOT BROWNISH EYES, GINGER, BRIGHT ORANGE- BROWN. |
SHE IS SWEDE |
HE IS POLISH |
|
|
FACE |
HERS IS A LIGHT COMPLEXION |
NAME |
HIS NAME IS FRED. |
|
|
AGE
|
HIS IS A DARK COMPLEXION |
SHE ´S THIN-FACED |
HE´S ROUND-FACED.
|
|
|
HE LOOKS LIKE A BIZARRE TEACHER
|
HE LOOKS A BIT UNFRIENDLY AND BOSSY. |
SHE´S GOT THIN LIPS |
HE´S GOT FULL LIPS |
|
|
SHE LOOKS LIKE A BUSINESSWOMAN.
|
SHE SEEMS SELF-CONFIFENT AND MANIPULATIVE. |
SHE IS IN HER LATE-THIRTIES. |
HE IS IN HIS EARLY- FORTIES. |
|
|
HE´S WELL-DRESSED, SMART.
|
HER NAME IS ANNE. |
LAST NAME |
HIS FAMILY NAME IS CHOPIN |
|
|
HER CHIN IS POINTED
|
HIS CHIN IS FIRM |
|
HER FAMILY NAME IS SHUMACHER |
|
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 22, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 28, 2009
A (1) ____ by Britain’s Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) has revealed that 58 percent of British teachers (2) ____ online plagiarism (copying work from the Internet) is a serious problem. Estimates are that over a quarter of students’ work (3) ____ writing that was cut-and-pasted directly from a website. ATL general-secretary Dr Mary Bousted said: “Teachers are struggling (4) ____ a mountain of cut-and-pasting to spot….plagiarism.” One shocked teacher explained she had work “so blatantly cut-and-pasted that it still contained adverts from the Web page!” Dr Bousted (5) ____ that putting so much emphasis on passing tests meant students were not learning. “Unsurprisingly, pupils are using all the (6) ____ available to push up their coursework marks, often at the expense of any real understanding of the subjects they are studying,” she said. To tackle this issue, many high schools are trying (7) ____ software that can easily spot plagiarized work. The Turnitin programme is used by universities across the world. Teachers can highlight a (8) ____ of text they believe was copied and the software searches the Internet to see if it is already online. William Murray, a Turnitin spokesman, said the Internet (9) ____ it easy for students to cheat. He pointed to the hundreds of sites that offer sample essays and essay-writing services. He added that students often do not know they are cheating when they copy-and-paste from the Web. This view is supported (10) ____ teacher Diana Barker, who said: “I think the majority of students who engage in plagiarism do it more out (11) ____ ignorance than the desire to cheat.” Dr Bousted noted that: “Pupils are the real losers because they (12) ____ the skills they appear to have.”
1. (a) surveillance (b) scurvy (c) surfing (d) survey
.-2. (a) believe (b) belief (c) believes (d) beliefs
3. (a) include (b) includes (c) including (d) inclusion
4. (a) over (b) on top of (c) under (d) inside
5. (a) divided (b) subtracted (c) added (d) multiplied
6. (a) meanings (b) means (c) mean (d) meant
7. (a) in (b) for (c) of (d) out
8. (a) block (b) black (c) back (d) book
9. (a) done (b) made (c) did (d) make
10. (a) with (b) out (c) in (d) by
11. (a) from (b) in (c) of (d) for
12. (a) lack (b) lacks (c) lacking (d) lacked
1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):
| a. | Many British teachers are worried about cheating students. | T / F |
| b. | Over half of students’ work has been copied from the Internet. | T / F |
| c. | Some students forget to remove the Web ads from what they copy. | T / F |
| d. | An expert suggested cheating can lead to more understanding. | T / F |
| e. | Schools are now using software to detect work copied online. | T / F |
| f. | A company spokesman said the Internet made cheating difficult. | T / F |
| g. | One teacher said many students don’t know that copying is wrong. | T / F |
| h. | An expert said that schools are the real losers when pupils cheat. | T / F |
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
| 1. | survey | a. | shown |
| 2 | revealed | b. | do |
| 3. | struggling | c. | deal with |
| 4. | blatantly | d. | highlighted |
| 5. | emphasis | e. | battling |
| 6. | tackle | f. | obviously |
| 7. | spot | g. | lack of knowledge |
| 8. | pointed to | h. | importance |
| 9. | engage in | i. | questionnaire |
| 10. | ignorance | j. | find |
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 28, 2009
CHEATING: Talk with your partner(s) about the points below. Are they examples of cheating? Do you do any of them? Rank them: 10 = very serious, 1 = not at all serious. Change partners and share your findings.
a. _____ looking at the answers in the back of the book
b. _____ using an Internet essay-writing service
c. _____ looking at the answers of the person next to you in an exam
d. _____ copying and pasting text from an Internet site for use in your essay
e. _____ stealing the answer key to a test from the teacher’s drawer
f. _____ asking a friend about the questions to a test they had just taken
g. _____ sharing answers to the exam using Bluetooth
h. _____ writing spellings and grammar rules on your arm
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 16, 2009
The world will soon (1) ____ who will get the “best job in the world”. The position is for a caretaker to live on and look after a (2) ____ island off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Duties include relaxing on the island, which is part of the Great Barrier Reef, and writing a blog to (3) ____ the area. Other responsibilities are to feed the fish, clean the pool and collect the mail. The job website, islandreefjob.com, tells applicants: “There are (4) ____ 1,500 species of fish living in the Great Barrier Reef. Don’t worry. You won’t need to (5) ____ them all.” The successful applicant will get a salary of nearly US$100,000 for the six months. Officials from Queensland’s tourism department announced on Tuesday that they were (6) ____ looking at 50 candidates. Unsurprisingly, over 35,000 people applied for the job.
The next stage in the (7) ____ process is to get the list of candidates down to 11. The tourism board will select ten people. Visitors to the website will choose an (8) ____ person. The public can look at the video applications of all 50 hopeful caretakers. The eleven lucky finalists will then fly to Hamilton Island (9) ____ a formal interview. The winner will be announced on May 6, and the job starts on July 1. The current shortlist of 50 includes people from 22 countries. They include dancers, chefs, scientists and students and they all want a (10) ____ of paradise. Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said there was (11) ____ discussion to narrow down the list to 50. He told reporters, “it boiled down to…the motivation and professionalism of the applicants and their (12) ‘____’ with the job and Tourism Queensland”.
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
| 1. | (a) | known | (b) | knowing | (c) | knows | (d) | know |
| 2. | (a) | tropical | (b) | tropics | (c) | tropically | (d) | tropic |
| 3. | (a) | promotion | (b) | promoting | (c) | promote | (d) | promoter |
| 4. | (a) | more | (b) | over | (c) | up | (d) | higher |
| 5. | (a) | fed | (b) | feed | (c) | feeder | (d) | feeding |
| 6. | (a) | current | (b) | moment | (c) | now | (d) | present |
| 7. | (a) | selection | (b) | section | (c) | dissection | (d) | vivisection |
| 8. | (a) | elevenses | (b) | eleven | (c) | elevenfold | (d) | eleventh |
| 9. | (a) | by | (b) | with | (c) | at | (d) | for |
| 10. | (a) | chop | (b) | slice | (c) | punch | (d) | slap |
| 11. | (a) | much | (b) | many | (c) | lots | (d) | loads |
| 12. | (a) | fitter | (b) | fits | (c) | fit | (d) | fitted |
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 28, 2009
The world will soon (1) ____ who will get the “best job in the world”. The position is for a caretaker to live on and look after a (2) ____ island off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Duties include relaxing on the island, which is part of the Great Barrier Reef, and writing a blog to (3) ____ the area. Other responsibilities are to feed the fish, clean the pool and collect the mail. The job website, islandreefjob.com, tells applicants: “There are (4) ____ 1,500 species of fish living in the Great Barrier Reef. Don’t worry. You won’t need to (5) ____ them all.” The successful applicant will get a salary of nearly US$100,000 for the six months. Officials from Queensland’s tourism department announced on Tuesday that they were (6) ____ looking at 50 candidates. Unsurprisingly, over 35,000 people applied for the job.
The next stage in the (7) ____ process is to get the list of candidates down to 11. The tourism board will select ten people. Visitors to the website will choose an (8) ____ person. The public can look at the video applications of all 50 hopeful caretakers. The eleven lucky finalists will then fly to Hamilton Island (9) ____ a formal interview. The winner will be announced on May 6, and the job starts on July 1. The current shortlist of 50 includes people from 22 countries. They include dancers, chefs, scientists and students and they all want a (10) ____ of paradise. Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said there was (11) ____ discussion to narrow down the list to 50. He told reporters, “it boiled down to…the motivation and professionalism of the applicants and their (12) ‘____’ with the job and Tourism Queensland”.
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
| 1. | (a) | known | (b) | knowing | (c) | knows | (d) | know |
| 2. | (a) | tropical | (b) | tropics | (c) | tropically | (d) | tropic |
| 3. | (a) | promotion | (b) | promoting | (c) | promote | (d) | promoter |
| 4. | (a) | more | (b) | over | (c) | up | (d) | higher |
| 5. | (a) | fed | (b) | feed | (c) | feeder | (d) | feeding |
| 6. | (a) | current | (b) | moment | (c) | now | (d) | present |
| 7. | (a) | selection | (b) | section | (c) | dissection | (d) | vivisection |
| 8. | (a) | elevenses | (b) | eleven | (c) | elevenfold | (d) | eleventh |
| 9. | (a) | by | (b) | with | (c) | at | (d) | for |
| 10. | (a) | chop | (b) | slice | (c) | punch | (d) | slap |
| 11. | (a) | much | (b) | many | (c) | lots | (d) | loads |
| 12. | (a) | fitter | (b) | fits | (c) | fit | (d) | fitted |
1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):
| a. | The “best job in the world” is to look after a desert island. | T / F |
| b. | One of the duties of this job is to catch and cook fish. | T / F |
| c. | There are 15,000 species of fish living on the Great Barrier Reef. | T / F |
| d. | More than 35,000 people applied for this wonderful job. | T / F |
| e. | Website visitors will choose a shortlist of 10 candidates. | T / F |
| f. | Website visitors can look at the video applications of the candidates. | T / F |
| g. | All of the applicants for the best job in the world are Australian. | T / F |
| h. | Tourist officials want someone who is motivated and professional. | T / F |
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
| 1. | position | a. | post |
| 2 | look after | b. | reduce |
| 3. | promote | c. | job |
| 4. | d. | choose | |
| 5. | applied | e. | publicize |
| 6. | process | f. | match |
| 7. | select | g. | care for |
| 8. | current | h. | method |
| 9. | narrow down | i. | went for |
| 10. | fit | j. | present |
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 28, 2009
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keB2LH-KSA
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 28, 2009
Read the descriptions of two items sold on ebay (www.ebay.com):
|
FAUX FUR LEOPARD JACKET COAT A size S/M vintage coat in excellent condition by Monterey Mills Inc. The short leopard coat is the hottest item this season, and this one is mint!! It is a fabulous faux fur, cream and brown leopard print, with long sleeves that have elastic at the cuff to keep out the cold, side slit pockets, furier closures down the front, and a brown leather and sateen lining in excellent condition. The inside tag says Intrigue, a luxury fabric by Monterey Mills Inc, cleaned by fur coat method. Measurements: length 25″ sleeves 23″ underam to underarm 19″. |
|
Retro Homme Argyle Check V-Neck Sweater Black Sleeve 100% brand new slim fit argyle checker V-neck sweater. Top quality mixed cotton and wool with retro argyle pattern. High retail value, and highly fashionable item. Sizes: S, M, L and XL |
1. Which of the two items is second-hand?
2. Comparing quality and price, which of the two is worthier? Which description sounds more attractive?
3. Underline new words and look them up in the dictionary.
Imagine you were given two items of clothing for your birthday which you don’t like. You have decided to sell them on ebay. Write a detailed description (approx. 90 words each), making them sound as attractive as possible.
|
CRITERIA |
POOR |
BELOW LEVEL |
TARGET LEVEL |
GOOD |
VERY GOOD |
|
|
accuracy |
1-2 |
3-4 |
5-6 |
7-8 |
9-10 |
/10 |
|
linguistic range |
1-2 |
3-4 |
5-6 |
7-8 |
9-10 |
/10 |
|
organization |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
/5 |
|
content & register |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
/5 |
|
Notes &comments |
total score |
|||||
The order of adjectives.
Adjectives follow a certain order:
Select the correct order of the adjectives in these sentences:
1. He invited that ___ lady to dinner.
2. These are ___ products.
3. Why can’t you wear your ___ dress tonight?
4. The boy needs ___ balls for that activity
5. I’ve booked that ___ table on the corner.
6. Mary’s husband gave her a ___ vase.
7. He broke Mother’s ___ milk jug.
8. My brother wants to meet that ___ girl.
9. What do you plan to do with these ___ bottles?
10. That ___ woman needs help.
11. There are two ___ dresses in her closet.
12. Tom never lets his sister drive his ___ car.
13. In Peru, make sure you visit the ___ ruins.
14. She sells ___ cookies.
15. The room was decorated with ___ balloons.
A red big B big red
Are the following adjectives in the correct order?
1. a big red book
2. a red big book
3. a French green book
4. a beautiful green Italian scarf
5. a little green man
6. a funny little man
7. a brown leather jacket
8. a German small town
9. a plastic expensive computer
10. a green old sweater
11. an Italian sexy man
12. a new terrible movie
13. an old lovely house
14. a tea yellow cup
15. green big eyes
16. An expensive old book
17. An unusual old book
18. A black fat dog
19. A German small man
20. A little stupid man
21. A lovely old house
22. A new expensive house
23. An expensive lovely house
24. long black hair
25. An enormous white cat
26. An old English church
27. English cold beer
28. blue big eyes
29. A leather black bag
30. green five pens
31. An interesting young woman
32. A boring English exercise
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 28, 2009
Video activity: Shopping for clothes
You are going to watch part of an episode of the sitcom Friends.
Ross seeks fashion advice from Rachel and Phoebe so go shopping with him…
PART ONE: Why does Ross need some fashion advice?
Does Rachel like Ross’s blue felt beret?
What does Phoebe think they could do to help Ross?
PART TWO: Do Rachel and Ross like the clothes the shop sells?
What items of clothing do Rachel and Phoebe choose for Ross?
Who is finally going to choose and buy Ross’s clothes? Why?
PART THREE: What did Phoebe buy?
What do the girls discover when they arrive home?
Describe Ross’s t-shirt in detail.
How do Ross and Joey and feel about the t-shirt? Why?
PART FOUR: Before watching, guess what happens when Ross meets his date.
Now watch the scene and see if you were right.
PART FIVE: What is Ross wearing when he shows up at Central Perk again? Why?
How did Joey’s date go?
EXERCISE 5: Work in pairs. Ask and answer these questions with your partner. Ask follow-up questions to find out more information.
1. What exactly did you wear to the last three parties you have been to?
2. What (again exactly) would you wear on each of the occasions listed below?
An open-air rock concert A new disco’s first night
A summer afternoon on the river A quiet evening at home
A barbecue on the beach A wedding banquet
3. What objects have you bought over the past year? How often have you worn them?
4. Have you ever bought something you later decided that it didn’t look good on you?
5. Is there any item of clothing you hate shopping for? Why?
6. Do you like dressing up?
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 29, 2009
In Britain, as in many other countries, there is a special day in the year when people play practical jokes on each other and when the media invents hoax (story) hoax /həʊks/ sustantivo (deception) engaño m; (joke) broma; news stories. This day is called April Fools’ Day, and takes place on 1st April.
Some April Fools’ Day hoaxes have been very easy to spot. Examples include a television report about a dinosaur in a London park, and a supermarket advertisement for ‘whistling carrots’. The supermarket advert said that when people cooked the carrots, they would start making a whistling sound as soon as they were ready to eat!
Even completely ridiculous hoaxes can fool people, however. One year, when the BBC said the government was going to ‘modernise’ London’s famous Big Ben clock by making it digital, lots of gullible people phoned the BBC to say they didn’t agree with the idea. The same thing happened a few years later when the BBC invented a story about Britain suddenly having a new national anthem, with all the words in German!
One of the most famous April Fools’ Day hoaxes was a BBC television programme in 1957 about ‘spaghetti trees’ in Switzerland. In the 1950s, most British people weren’t familiar with ‘foreign’ food such as pasta, so the programme made thousands of people think that spaghetti really did grow on trees.
In the United States, April Fools’ Day hoaxes include a 1998 advert by Burger King for a special ‘left-handed’ hamburger. The advert said that when a left-handed person bit into the burger, any sauce that dripped out would always fall to the right, away from their hand. Anyone who fell for that one must have felt quite embarrassed, but perhaps less embarrassed than the people in Sweden who put stockings on their televisions on 1st April 1962. Why did they do that? Because all Swedish televisions were black and white at the time, but an ‘expert’ had just appeared on a popular programme to say people could immediately see everything in colour if they put a nylon stocking over their sets!
Left-handed Burger
‘We have a great new item for our menu,’ an advertisement in USA Today claimed. ‘The Left-handed Whopper has been specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans.’
The new product included the same ingredients as the original Whopper – with one important change. ‘We have rotated the burger 180 degrees,’ the company announced. ‘Now our left-handed customers can enjoy the Whopper in even greater comfort.’
RIGHT-HANDED BURGUERS?
Until this time left-handed people had not noticed problems eating hamburgers. But that day thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to request the new sandwich. And “many others” asked for their own ‘right handed’ burgers.
Steps to succeed on that day!
What do you think?
Officials in Wales needed to make a road sign to stop lorries using a road near an ASDA supermarket. The message on the sign had to Say, “No entry for heavy goods vehicles. Residential site only.” As all road signs in Wales are bilingual, the officials sent the message by email to a translator. They received a reply with the translation, made the sign and displayed it on the road. It wasn’t long before Welsh speakers told the officials that the sign actually said, “I am not in the office at the moment.Send any work to be translated.” The sign has since disappeared.
Best job in the world
At the beginning of the year, a job advertisement appeared in newspapers in Britain that read, “Wanted: One ‘island caretaker’, must be able to swim and willing to move to Hamilton Island in Australia’s tropical Whitsundays to begin July 1. Flexible hours, six-month salary of $150,000, non-negotiable.” According to the ad, the successful applicant for “the best job in the world” will live in a rent-free $5 million villa with spectacular views. Candidates had to submit a video explaining why they should get the job. Ten shortlisted candidates will be invited to a four-day interview, starting on May 3.
.Boy and girl plan to marry in Africa
A seven-year-old German girl and her six-year-old boyfriend decided to run away from home in Germany this winter and get married in warmer Africa. The two children packed bathing costumes, sunglasses and food, and they left home on New Year’s Day. The girl’s sister ent with them to be a witness at the wedding. Railway officials in Hanover became suspicious and contacted the police. After the children were given a tour of Hanover police station, their parents arrived to take them home.
Cool beach
A luxury hotel being built in Dubai by Gianni Versace, the Italian fashion house, will include an air-conditioned beach to allow its rich guests to lie on the beach in the summer months when temperatures can go above 49° C (120° F). The deluxe hotel, Palazzo Versace,will open in 2010. The president of Palazzo Versace told The Times newspaper: “We will suck the heat out of the sand to keep it cool enough to lie on. This is the kind of luxury that top people want.”
There’s a lizard in my broccoli
In January, the daughter of a family in England was surprised when she found a four-inch lizard in the broccoli she was cutting for lunch. The broccoli came from Tesco, Britain’s biggest supermarket chain. After recovering from the shock, the family became attached to the lizard. They took it to a local veterinarian and then decided to keep it as a pet. They named the lizard Tenko. A spokesman for Tesco aid, “We are glad that Tenko has found a good home.”
Alas, poor Yorick
When the Polish pianist Andre Tchaikovsky died in 1982, he left his skull to the Royal Shakespeare Company to use in performances of Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. In act five, scene one, Hamlet holds up a skull and says, “Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him.” For 25 years, RSCactors preferred to use replica skulls.However, last year the pianist’s wish came true when the actor David Tennant, famous for his role in the British TV series Doctor Who, used the skull for the first time. According to the play’s director, Tennant wanted “to make the performance as real as possible”.
Yes, we can!
English students in Japan are using U.S. President Barack Obama’s speeches to help them improve their English. The book are positive and use phrases that Japanese people can easily memorise, such as “Yes, we can.”The Speeches of Barack Obama and its accompanying CD sold more than 400,000 copies in just two months in Japan. Students in an English-language school in Tokyo have been memorising Obama’s 2004 Democratic Convention speech to improve their comprehension and pronunciation. The book’s Japanese publisher believes its success is due to the fact that Obama’s speeches are positive and use phrases that Japanese people can easily memorise, such as “Yes, we can”
I think
it is / it could be / it’s definitely not true.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 15, 2009
How to have a successful interview
LEAD-IN: Discuss in pairs.
Have you ever had a job interview? Was the experience good or bad?
1. Here is some interview advice. Which do you think is good advice? Which is bad advice? Why?
1. Establish eye contact with the interviewer.
2. Ask the interviewer a lot of questions about the job.
3. Fold your arms and cross your legs.
4. Dress smartly. A suit is a good idea.
5. Only speak when you are asked a question.
6. Lie about your work experience.
7. Talk about good qualities even when not asked.
8. Say why you are interested in the job.
9. Complain about your last job.
10. Say that you are going to other job interviews
PARTS OF AN INTERVIEW
1) GREETINGS AND SMALL TALK: Making people feel at ease
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Hello, it’s ___________isn’t it? It’s very nice to meet you. Do have a seat Did you have any problems getting here? You sent your CV online, didn’t you? We’re impressed by your CV |
2) SELL YOURSELF: Reasons why you are the perfect candidate
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There are several reasons why I’d like to get the job… First of all, ________secondly, __________another important thing is_________ |
3) ENDING AN INTERVIEW: The interviewer should thank the candidate and tell him/her what will happen next
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Thank you very much for coming. I’ll let you know as soon as possible I’ll be in touch by the end of the week |
ROLE PLAY: “Korean restaurant seeks head chef”
1) What type of person may the employer be looking for?
2) Work in groups of 5:
1 plays the part of the employer and the four others, you play the role of candidates.
A) Employers: Get together and in 5/7 minutes brainstorm and take notes of questions to ask to the applicants.
Applicants: Go over your role (card) and find your strengths and weaknesses for the job.
B) Employers interview candidates one by one (follow the parts above: greetings, questions, ending)
C) After the interview, employers need to choose only 1 candidate and justify his/her choice. Tell the class.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 30, 2009
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QUESTIONS |
ANSWERS |
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1. What size are you? 2. Could I try this on? 3. Do they fit? 4. Have you got them in a bigger size? 5. What do you think of them? 6. Where do I pay? |
a. No, they are too tight b. Over there, at the counter. c. I like them. They look good on you. d. Yes, the changing room is over there.´ e. I´m a 28 f. Yes, here you are. |
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 30, 2009
EXERCISE 1:
SHOPPING FOR CLOTHES
Look at these lists of clothes. Answer the questions:
1 Which one is likely to cost the least:
a party frock an evening dress a wedding dress
2 Which one wouldn’t you wear at a posh dinner?
a tuxedo a dinner jacket a blazer a leather jacket
3 Which would you take with you on a summer evening, in case it gets cold?
a cardigan a polo-neck jumper a sweater a pullover
4 Which would a business woman be most likely to wear?
a mini skirt a kilt a tutu a pleated skirt
5 Which would a boy wear in bed?
a nightie pyjamas a nightgown
6 Which might you wear in a gym?
flares a pair of trousers designer jeans tracksuit bottoms
7 Which would you be unlikely to put on as soon as you get up?
a bath robe a dressing gown a raincoat underwear
EXERCISE 2:
Place the following words in the correct column, as shown in the example:
heel ,earrings, handbag, bra, knickers, tights, cuff, crease, sleeve, pocket ,gloves
belt, buckle, turn-ups, sole, lace ,hat, buttons, cufflinks, lapel, lining, seam
zip, flares, braces ,buttonhole
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Jacket |
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Shoes |
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Which of the words in the box below would you use to describe the dress sense of the people described in a – e:
fashionable smart casual over-dressed flamboyant trendy stylish elegant scruffy
a.Clire is eighteen. She lives to shop. She spends ages going round shops buying clothes – not just high street shops, but second hand shops too.She likes people to notice what she’s wearing at parties and clubs, no matter whether she’s wearing the latest fashion or something she’s created herself.
b. .At weekends, I tend to wear an old t-shirt and a pair of baggy jeans with holes in them.
c. Fifi la Roux wore the most outrageous costume you have ever seen. Gold-coloured high-heeled boots, silver flares and a tuxedo overed in glitter. It was an amazing sight, but then it was his fiftieth birthday!orking in the City.
d. It is important to make the right impression on clients. I buy my suits from Saville Row and my ties are specially imported from Italy.
e. As she walked down the stairs in the Yves St Laurent evening dress, everybody turned to look at her. She looked like a princess.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 31, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: March 31, 2009
Pronounce well!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 8, 2009
Oh the wind whistles down
The cold dark street tonight
And the people they were dancing to the music vibe
And the boys chase the girls with the curls in their hair
While the shy tormented youth sit way over there
And the songs they get louder
Each one better than before
And you’re singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
And you’re singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
So your heading down the road in your taxi for four
And you’re waiting outside Jimmy’s front door
But nobody’s in and nobody’s home ’til four
So you’re sitting there with nothing to do
Talking about Robert Riger and his motley crew
And where you’re gonna go and where you’re gonna sleep tonight
And you’re singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
And you’re singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
And you’re singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
And you’re singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
And you’re singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
And you’re singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 13, 2009
FLIRT= if you flirt with someone, you act as if you are sexually attracted to them in a not very serious way.
These videos shows a psychological questionnaire supposedly made by an automatic machine to help you see if you’re good at flirting with men/women. They’ll ask you questions and you can choose the answer you think is best (write them down on a piece of paper) and then the machine will tell you which were the best answers, so that you can know if you’re a good flirter.
If you’re a man, compare the answers with how you would like to be approached by a woman.
If you´re a woman, compare the answers with how you would like to be approached by a man.
Below the first video you have listening questions or you can read the transcript.
| “Leave nothing to the imagination” means_ |
| The answer is: show too much skin. |
| “Size up your man” means_ |
| The answer is: decide how attractive he is. |
| “Mirroring his posture” means_ |
| The answer is: copy his actions. |
| “interact verbally” means_ |
| The answer is: speak with him. |
| “break his personal space barrier” means_ |
| The answer is: get close to him. |
| An “Ice Queen” is a woman who_ |
| The answer is: is unfriendly and disinterested. |
| A “desperado” is a woman who_ |
| The answer is: is strong and bossy. |
| A “minx” is a woman who_ |
| The answer is: is sexy and attractive. |
How was it? Here you´ve the transcript in case you´ve doubts.
Step 3:
Body Language
You would like to use your body to express your interest in your man. Should you look:
A. Interested and approachable by mirroring his posture
B. Unattainable by crossing your arms
C. Easy by doing a few thrusts
Step 4:
Conversation
You are about to interact verbally with your man. Should you say:
A. A little, but listen attentively and ask questions at appropriate moments.
B. Not much and ignore his attempts to talk to you
C. A lot and ignore his attempts to run away
Step 5:
Touch
You are now getting closer to your man. Should you touch:
A. His arm briefly and gently to break the personal space barrier
B. His wallet
C. Him all over and grab his groin.
Your Results:
Mostly Bs – The Ice Queen. Turn up the heat and give the guy a chance, lady! If you don’t thaw out soon you’re going to be left out in the cold….
Mostly Cs – The Desperado. Wow you know what you want and nothing’s going to stop you – not even his lack of interest. Remember it doesn’t count if the consent isn’t mutual…
Mostly As – The Minx. Congratulations! You know all the right moves… You’re subtly sexy and approachable without being over keen. Go girl!
Good luck flirting with your man.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 16, 2009
1. You are going to listen to a song by The Beatles. What do you know about the Beatles? Write down as many information as you can.
2. Match the following words and expressions to their meanings: to sleep like a log why on earth tight to work like a dog to be worth it to moan
1. To sleep very well ___________
2. To complain in an annoying way, especially in an unhappy voice and without good reason ___________
3. Expression used to say that you gain something from an action ___________
4. Expression used when you are extremely surprised, confused or angry about something ___________
5. Firmly ___________
6. To work very hard ___________
3. Now, listen to the song. Fill in the gaps with the infinitive, the present simple or the past participle of the verbs from the table below. You’ll hear the song twice.
Moan buy get find work seem give hear feel be know
It’s been a hard day’s night, and I’ve ________1 working like a dog It’s been a hard day’s night, I should ________2 sleeping like a log But when I get home to you I’ll ________3 the things that you do Will make me ________4 alright You know I ________5 all day to get you money to ________6 your things And it’s worth it just to ________7 you say you’re gonna ________8 me everything So why on earth should I ________9, ’cause when I get you alone You know I feel ok When I’m home everything ________10 to be right When I’m home feeling you holding me tight, tight, yeah It’s been a hard day’s night, and I’ve ________11 working like a dog It’s been a hard day’s night, I should ________2 sleeping like a log But when I get home to you I’ll ________3 the things that you do Will make me ________4 alright So why on earth should I ________9, ’cause when I get you alone You know I feel ok When I’m home everything ________10 to be right When I’m home feeling you holding me tight, tight, yeah It’s been a hard day’s night, and I’ve ________1 working like a dog It’s been a hard day’s night, I should ________2 sleeping like a log But when I get home to you I’ll ________3 the things that you do Will make me ________4 alright You know I ________4 alright You know I ________4 alright
Now, check it…
( J. Lennon, P. McCartney )
It’s been a hard days night,
And I’ve been working like a dog,
It’s been a hard days night,
I should be sleeping like a log.
But when I get home to you
I find the things that you do
Will make me feel alright.
You know I work all day
To get you money to buy you things,
And it’s worth it just to hear you say,
You’re gonna give me ev’rything.
So why on earth should I moan,
‘Cos when I get you alone,
You know I feel O.K.
When I home ev’rything seems to be right,
When I home feeling you holding me tight, tight, yeah.
It’s been a hard days night,
And I’ve been working like a dog,
It’s been a hard days night,
I should be sleeping like a log.
But when I get home to you
I find the things that you do
Will make me feel alright.
So why on earth should I moan,
‘Cos when I get you alone,
You know I feel O.K.
When I home ev’rything seems to be right,
When I home feeling you holding me tight, tight, yeah.
It’s been a hard days night,
And I’ve been working like a dog,
It’s been a hard days night,
I should be sleeping like a log.
But when I get home to you
I find the things that you do
Will make me feel alright.
You know I feel alright.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 18, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 19, 2009
Name: ____________________________ |
Date: ________________ |
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 19, 2009
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 25, 2009
Did you know? A person who never socialises and rejects invitations is a I’m a 'washing-my-hair kind of person'. A day when it is warm, but sometimes there is a cold wind – a 'take-a-jacket-just-in-case' kind of day. A bar that is always busy – a 'never-find-a-seat' kind of bar. A person who is vain – a 'can’t-walk-past-a-mirror-without-looking' sort of person. Hole-in-the-wall is one of those phrases where you get a lot of words hyphenated, if you write it down: hole-in-the-wall, being used as a single word, as a noun. “I’m going to the hole-in-the-wall” you might say or “I’m getting some money out of the hole-in-the-wall”. Well you can see what it means, it means an automatic cash dispenser – one of those installed in the outside wall of a bank or some other money-giving organisation. It’s British colloquial; it’s not used as far as I know in the States, or in Australia, or anywhere, although I wouldn’t be surprised if it spread a little bit – always written with hyphens. Very unusual to see phrases of this kind and sentences being used in this way, as single words. But if you listen out for them, you’ll find them – especially being used as adjectives. Have you heard people for instance say “he’s a very get-up-and-go-person”? Now there’s the sentence ‘get up and go’. To say a “get-up-and-go-person” means somebody who’s got lots of oomph inside them, lots of enthusiasm. Or if I give you a “come-hither-look” – a “come-hither-look”: come here – come hither. Another phrase being used as an adjective. You can try them out as a sort of game. “Who do you think you are?” is a common enough expression – so you can make it an adjective and say “he gave me a 'who-do-you-thinkyou- are' sort of look”. Make it even longer if you want: “he gave me 'a who-do-you-thinkyou- are-and-why-are-you-looking-at-me' sort of look” – but there is a limit to the length you can make an adjective. Don’t go on for too long, you’ll run out of breath!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 26, 2009
Hyphenated Words: A Guide
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Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: May 24, 2009
WRITING EXERCISE 1: Correspondence
Proposal 1: Correspondence.
You have invited your Irish friend Paul –who lives in Marbella- to stay with you this summer from Friday 11th July to Wednesday 16th July, but now you need to delay this visit. Write him an e-mail. In your email you should:
· Apologise to him
· Explain why the visit has to be delayed
· Suggest when it would be convenient for him to come
Write about 120 words.
Proposal 2: Correspondence.
You have just come home from a wonderful holiday at a friend’s house in New York. Write an email to them. In your email you should:
· Thank them
· Say what you most enjoyed about the place where you were staying
· Suggest where you could meet the next time
Write about 120 words
Proposal 3: Correspondence. (Includes narration).
You have some good news. You want to tell your friend in Canada about it. Write him/her an email. In your email you should:
Write about 120 words.
Proposal 4: Correspondence.
This is part of a letter you received from a friend:
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Write a letter to your friend giving him/her some advice for the problem he/she has.
Write about 120 words.
Proposal 5: Correspondence. (Includes narration)
You have just found the email address of an old school friend on the website www.friendsreunited.com. You haven’t seen each other for several years, since you left school. Write him/her an email, including the following information:
Write about 120 words.
Proposal 6: Correspondence.
You are on holiday in an exotic place. Write an email to a friend in Scotland, telling him/her about the holiday. Include information about the following things:
Write about 120 words.
Proposal 7: Correspondence. (Includes description)
This is part of a letter you received from a penfriend in Bulgaria:
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Now write a letter in answer to your friend. Include the following information:
Write about 120 words.
Proposal 8: Email correspondence.
A friend of yours in an English-speaking country is coming to your city with their family. Your friend has asked you to help organize their visit. Write an email to your friend. Include information about the following things:
Write about 120 words.
Proposal 9: Correspondence.
You have seen this job advertisement in a newspaper. Write a letter applying for the job. Include information about: SEE ADVERT IN HANDOUTS GIVEN IN CLASS.
Write about 120 words.
WRITING EXERCISE 2: Description / Narration
Proposal 1’: Correspondence. (Includes description and possibly narrative)
You have recently moved to a new house in a small town near where you work. You want to tell your pen friend about the place where you live now. Write him/her a letter including the following information:
· Explain why you moved
· Tell your friend what facilities the town has
· Say what you don’t like about living there
· Ask about your friend’s family
Write about 120 words
Proposal 2’: Descriptive text.
You are reading an internet forum www.audionauts.com/forum about music around the world. There is an Australian who has left this message:
Can anyone tell me about Spanish music? What kind of groups are there? Is there a lot of live music? What are the most popular bands?
Write an answer to his message. Write about 120 words.
Proposal 3’: Descriptive text.
Describing a room. Describe your favourite room in the house/flat where you live. Include the following information:
Write about 120 words.
Proposal 4’: Descriptive text.
Describing a festivity: describe how Christmas / San Juanes/ Easter / Birthdays / Carnival is celebrated in your country. Include the following information:
Write about 120 words.
Proposal 5’:
You work for a magazine, answering people’s letters about health problems. This is part of a letter you received from a reader. Write about 120 words for your magazine column, answering the letter and giving some advice.
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Proposal 6’: Narrative text.
You have been asked to write a short story for the EOI monthly magazine. Your story has to start with these words: It was a fantastic party, until…
Write about 120 words.
Proposal 7’: Descriptive text.
Describing a person. Describe one of your relatives. Write about the following things:
Write about 120 words.
Proposal 8’:
You have been asked to write about the last good film you have seen for the EOI monthly magazine. Write about 120 words for your mini magazine article:
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Proposal 9’: Correspondence.
You read this piece of news in the newspaper this morning:
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Write a letter to the editor of the El Mundo de Valladolid, section “Mirando MIranda” and mention the following things:
Write about 120 words.
EXAMPLES:
Proposal 1: Correspondence.
You have invited your Irish friend Paul…
Hi Paul!
How are you? I hope you’re OK. I’m writing to you with some bad news. I’m sorry but I’m not going to be in Valladolid when you are planning to visit. My sister, who is studying in Argentina, has suddenly told us she is getting married, on the 14th of July!!! It’s amazing; we didn’t know she had a boyfriend. I talked to her on the phone and she sounds very happy. Anyway, I have to travel to Argentina so I’m not going to be at home between the 12th of July and the 5th of August.
Can you come to Valladolid the third week of August instead? Or in September – the weather is excellent for going to the beach in September too!
Write soon and let me know,
Love
Laura.
(134 words)
Proposal 2: Correspondence.
You have just come home from a wonderful holiday…
Dear John and Patricia,
Thanks so much for the wonderful time I had at your house! I have just got back from the airport and wanted to write to you quickly to thank you! The thing I liked the most was when we visited the Empire State Building. It is in all the films, and I felt like in “Sleepless in Seattle”, when Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks meet on the roof J
Next time we meet you have to come here to Santiago. We can visit the roofs of the Cathedral – it isn’t the same as the Empire State Building, but it’s very beautiful! The best time to come is in May-June or in September.
Write soon and send me the photos you took,
Lots of love
Laura.
(128 words)
Proposal 1’: Correspondence. (Includes description and possibly narrative)
You have recently moved to a new house…
Dear Mary,
Here is my new address – I’ve just moved to a flat in Simancas which is a town 16km from Valladolid. We had to move because our contract in the flat in Valladolid finished, and all the places in Valladolid were very, very expensive. In Simancas it is much cheaper! The only problem is that I have to drive to work –sometimes it takes me 45 minutes because of the traffic. But there’s a big new swimming pool near our new house, and the supermarket is near us too. So it’s OK – and lots of our friends live in this town too, so we have plenty of people to do things with after work.
What about you? How are the children? I hope you and Chris are both OK!
I have to go now, write soon!
Love
Laura.
(139 words)
Proposal 3’: Descriptive text.
Describing a room. Describe your favourite room…
My favourite room is the living room of my parents’ house. It is an enormous room, about 60m2. There is a fireplace and two large sofas in one part and in the other part there is a table where we eat. The sofas are in front of an enormous window with a wonderful view of the coast, and you can often see cruise ships sail into Vigo harbour. It’s my favourite room because it is where we always sit and eat and talk, and where our friends sit when they come. It’s the most important room in the house. It used to have less furniture, but now there are more books and more CDs, so there are more bookshelves and more cupboards.
(128 words)
Proposal 4’: Descriptive text.
Describing a festivity: describe how…
San Xoan is a pagan festivity celebrated on the 21st of June. The most important thing is that at night people do enormous bonfires or they go to bonfires in their part of the city. San Xoan celebrates the beginning of the summer, and lots of students celebrate the end of the school year. The most typical thing is jumping over the bonfire: you have to jump over it three times to eliminate the bad spirits and keep away bad luck during the rest of the year. People also cook chorizos on the fire and eat them with bread. The day after San Xoan the streets need to be cleaned a lot! I don’t think anything has changed over the years, San Xoan has always been celebrated in this way.
(130 words)
Proposal 3: Correspondence. (Includes narration).
You have some good news…
Dear Jeanine,
How are you? I hope you and your family are OK! How is your friend Mark and his wife? It was lovely to meet them, they’re very nice people!
Anyway, I’m writing to tell you some really good news: I’m going to start work in a new company! I went to the interview two weeks ago and they have just phoned me to tell me that I have the job! I’m very excited – it’s a much more interesting job and the salary is better too. I’m very happy because with the new salary I’ll be able to travel abroad every summer and I won’t be so worried about money all the time.
Wish me luck for Monday!
Lots of love, and give my love to your brother too,
Laura.
(131 words)
DID YOU LIKE THE PRESENT????
xxxx.
Laura
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 27, 2009
Susan Boyle (born 1 April 1961) is a Scottish singer and church volunteer who came to public attention on 11 April 2009, when she appeared as a contestant on the third series of Britain’s Got Talent.
Boyle found fame when she sang “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables in the competition’s first round.
Before she sang, both the audience and the judges appeared to express scepticism based on her unpolished appearance. In contrast, her vocal performance was so well received that she has been dubbed “The Woman Who Shut Up Simon Cowell“.She received a standing ovation from the live audience, and unanimous praise from the judges.The audition was recorded in January 2009 at the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow, Scotland, and was first broadcast on Saturday, 11 April 2009, in Britain.
The juxtaposition of the reception to her voice with the audience’s first impression of her triggered global interest. Articles about her appeared in newspapers all over the world, while the numbers who watched videos of her audition set an online record.By 20 April 2009, nine days after her televised debut, viral videos of her audition, subsequent interviews of her, and her 1999 rendition of “Cry Me a River” had been viewed over 100 million times on the Internet.Cowell is reported to be setting up a contract with Boyle with his Syco Music company label, a subsidiary of Sony Music.
1. Read the text above on Susan Boyle and watch the video. What´s your opinion on Susan Boyle? What kind of programme is “Britain´s got talent”? Does it remind you a popular Spanish TV programme?
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Monday, Apr 27
Susan Boyle’s Got Literary Buzz
The singer’s spot on the reality show Britain’s Got Talent generated 41 million views on YouTube, landing the singer television, tabloid, and Internet fame. In the United States, the singer’s book auction will be handled by agent Richard Pine. In England, she is represented by agent Mark Lucas. Here’s more from Crain’s: “Some publishing executives who think there is potential in Ms. Boyle’s book are still nervous about spending the millions it might take to buy it. ‘She has a story,’ says an editor at one house considering the book. ‘But it’s a short story.’” (Photo via, link via.) |
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Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 27, 2009
As part of NYR, the organisers published a report on what young people are reading today. The report has revealed that, unlike previous generations, today’s teenagers enjoy digital reading as much as traditional reading. They read a wide range of material, including magazines, film scripts and song lyrics. And an amazing 80 per cent of teens have written their own story, film, play or song.
Celebrity magazines Heat and Bliss are what English teens like to read most. However, “skinny celebrities in magazines” is also near the top of the list of things teens hate reading about. Harry Potter features in the top 10, but also appears at number 8 in the hate list.
Although there are some traditional books on the list, the number of books teenagers read falls when they start secondary school. An average 8-year-old reads around 16 books a year, but the number falls to around three books a year when they’re 15 or 16.
The study also discovered that parents don’t always understand that reading means more than just reading books. Forty-five per cent of teenagers have been criticised by an adult for enjoying something that they don’t consider to be “proper reading”.
Look at the lists, and then make your own list of what you love and hate to read.
The hate reading list
1 Homework
2 Shakespeare
3 Books over 100 pages
4 Reading about skinny celebrities in magazines
5 The books I am made to read byschool/my teachers
6 Encyclopaedias and dictionaries
7 The Beano comic
8 Music (scores)
8= The Harry Potter series
8= Maps/directions
9 Facebook
10 Financial Times
10= Anything in another language
The love reading list
1 Heat magazine
2 Bliss magazine
2= Song lyrics online
3 Computer game cheats online
4 My own online blog or fan fiction
5 The Harry Potter series
6 Anne Frank’s Diary
7 Film scripts
8 Books by Anthony Horowitz
9 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
10 BBC Online
10= Books by Louise Rennison
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 28, 2009
There are now four films about the adventures of Indiana Jones. Can you put them in the correct order?
a. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
b. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
c. Raiders of the Lost Ark
d. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 29, 2009
?
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: April 30, 2009
“The Road Not Taken” (1916)
Two roads diverged in a yellow 1_____/wu:d/,
And sorry I could not travel 2______/bəuθ/
And be one traveler, long I 3______/stu:d/
And looked down one as far as I 4_____ /kud/
To where it bent in the under 5____/grəuθ/
Then took the other, as just as 6_______/feə/
And having perhaps the better 7_____/kleim/
Because it was grassy and wanted 8_____/weə/
Though as for that, the passing 9_____/deə/
Had worn them really about the 10_____/seim/
And both that morning equally 11_____/lei/
In leaves no step had trodden 12_____/blæk/
Oh, I kept the first for another 13_____/dei/
Yet knowing how way leads on to 14___/wei/
I doubted if I should ever come 15_____ / bæk/
I shall be telling this with a 16_______/sai/
Somewhere ages and ages 17______/hens/
two roads diverged in a wood, and 18___ /ai/
I took the one less traveled 19_____/ bai/
And that has made all the difference.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: May 4, 2009
FAIRY TALES.
-Yes, we’re fairies. -
-Then, I can fly! -
-Sure! -
She jumped from the roof and tried flapping her arms.
Our mother was still asleep when I came back into the house.
She was pregnant.
I touched her belly and I swore that no one would steal her love from me again.
A DYING NIGHT.
I’m gonna die tonight. I do know it. That’s why I’m driving so fast. Tonight, nothing matters.
Someone is sitting on the back side of my car. I feel her freezing breath.
I can’t see her face. Nor I want to.
I just can see the brightness of her scythe.
FRIGHTENING ENEMY.
All my fears are perfectly reflected in my enemy’s eyes.
However, he seems to be so self-confident!
It is as if he knew how frightened I am.
His defiant freezing look is making me shudder.
I whisper an old prayer. Then, I close strongly my eyes to shoot and… Goaaaaal!!!
THE LAST PIROUETTE.
I wonder whether she’ll know I’ve been unfaithful to her.
I try to see on her a sign of resentment.
Nothing.
Maybe she doesn’t even suspect it.
I jump from my trapeze stretching my arms to get hers. Then, I comprehend why she had wanted to perform without net tonight.
A BAD DAY FOR LOVING.
-Tonight, leave me alone! – I shouted, pushing her.
-But, the moon is rising and I’d like to share this moment with you – she said holding my hand.
I tried to runaway from her but it was already too late.
The full moon was shinning and I had started to howl.
CONFUSING.
When he woke up he didn’t know where he was. There was an old woman laying beside him. Confused, he asked her who she was.
She, surprised, dialled a phone number, asked a question a waited for the answer.
Then, she started to cry.
She hadn’t heard about Alzheimer’s before.
TOO LATE TO APOLOGIZE.
- What the hell where you thinking when you did it?-
- I was just kidding but I’m pretty sorry now Mum.-
- Do you really believe that changing a patient’s diagnosis is a joke? For God’s sake! Grandpa came to the hospital suffering from appendicitis and now he has silicon titties!-
THE POWER OF DREAMS ( Tribute to the Beatles)
( Or how history could have changed if the prophecy that a soldier wrote in a letter to his girlfriend had been believed.)
Martha my dear, yesterday I dreamt I was back in the USSR to overrun Stalingrad but the weather started to get worse. Many soldiers died because of the freezing winter and we lost the battle.
I’ve got a feeling about it. It’s going to come true!
Tell it to the Führer. He must abort the ambush or it will be the end!
(Sentences in italics are Beatles’ songs tittles. If you discount them there are exactly 50 words.)
I hope you keep on writing. Looking forward to reading more!
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: May 6, 2009
Listen to different accents from foreigners squatting in London. Do you have plans for summer? Just a suggestion!! Would you squat?
Like your comment, Elena.
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: May 6, 2009
Do you know that children in the United States and Canada often count “One-Mississippi, two-Mississippi” during informal games such as hide and seek to approximate counting by seconds?
Watch this video from the sitcom Friends where Ross gets some tan and see how he counts. What can you say about his personality?
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: May 8, 2009
The FIA Formula One World Championship is one of the most exciting competitions in world sport. From March 16 to November
2, there are 18 races in 17 countries on four continents.
1 THE FORMULA
The following questions are about driving rules.
1. Do cars drive on the right or on the left side of the road in the United Kingdom?
[On the left]
2. What does a round red sign with a white horizontal bar across it mean?
[No entry]
3. What’s the speed limit on motorways in your country?
[Answer depends on country]
4. What document shows you have passed your driving test?
[Driving licence]
5. What does a round white sign with a black horizontal bar across it mean?
[National speed limit applies]
6. Do cars drive on the right or on the left in the United States?
[On the right]
7. What is a breathalyser used for?
[To determine the amount of alcohol someone has consumed]
8. What does a round blue sign with a red border and a diagonal red bar across it mean?
[No parking]
Q2 CONSTRUCTORS
The constructors make the cars. Which country are the following constructors from?
1. Ferrari
[Italy]
2. McClaren
[United Kingdom]
3. Renault
[France]
4. Honda
[Japan]
5. BMW Sauber
[Germany]
6. Toyota
[Japan]
7. Toro Rosso
[Italy]
8. Red Bull
[Austria]
Q3 ADVERTISING
Formula One is the world’s most expensive sport, and a lot of the money that constructors need to make a competitive car
comes from advertising from sponsors. Can you connect the correct company with these advertising slogans?
1. Just Do It [Nike]
2. I’m Lovin’ It [McDonald’s]
3. Connecting People [Nokia]
4. The Real Thing [Coca-Cola]
5. Impossible Is Nothing [Adidas]
6. Hello Moto [Motorolla]
7. Because You’re Worth It [L’Oréal]
8. Autoemción [Seat]
Q4 STEWARD’S ENQUIRY
The stewards look at incidents during a race and decide if a driver or team should receive a penalty. They often call on drivers to give their version of events. Complete these tasks based on language that you’ve been studying recently. (Example tasks)
1. Name a certain number of related words.
2. Spell a word.
3. Complete a word with the number of letters indicated.
4. Translate a word, phrase or sentence into English or your first language.
5. Complete a sentence with a gap in it.
6. Write down a short dictation.
Q5 PIT STOP
A good pit stop is a fast pit stop. Do the following 20-second tasks.
1. List 10 countries.
2. List 10 sports.
3. List 10 forms of transport.
4. List six pieces of sports equipment.
5. List 10 colours.
6. Make eight words using the letters from
the words Formula One.
7. List 10 jobs.
8. List eight European capital cities.
Q6 FUEL
The following questions and activities are related to fuel.
1. Which country is the world’s biggest producer of oil?
[Saudi Arabia]
2. Which country consumes the most oil?
[The United States]
3. OPEC stands for the Organization of the P______ Exporting Countries.
[Petroleum (accept Petrol)]
4. Which country with its capital city in Europe produces the most oil?
[Russia]
5. Three of the world’s top 20 oil-producing countries are in South America. Can you name one?
[Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil]
6. Which country has the world’s secondlargest known oil reserves – Iraq, Iran, Canada or the United States?
[Canada]
7. Two European countries extract oil from the North Sea. Can you name one of them?
[the United Kingdom, Norway]
8. Name two countries that share a border with Iraq.
[Kuwait, Jordan, Iran, Saudi Arabia,Syria, Turkey]
Q7 RAIN
The weather has a big influence on a race. Translate weather words and phrases into English from your own language.
1. It’s cloudy.
2. It’s windy.
3. It’s foggy.
4. There’s a storm coming.
5. Thunder and lightning.
6. It’s misty.
7. It’s freezing.
8. It’s raining hailstones.
Q8 TYRE CHANGE
Choosing the right tyre at the right time is a crucial part of racing strategy. Complete the words related to cars.
1. w _ _ _ _ : A car has four of these. [wheels]
2. e _ _ _ _ _: This moves the car. [engine]
3. g _ _ _: Most modern cars have five of these. [gear]
4. b _ _ _ _ s: They stop the car. [brakes]
5. s _ _ _ b _ _ t: You put this on when you’re in a car. [seat belt]
6. h _ _ _ lights: A car has two of these for driving at night. [headlights]
7. w _ _ _ screen: The driver sits behind this window. [windscreen]
8. b _ _ _ : A space at the back of the car where you put luggage, etc. [boot]
Q9 GRAND PRIX
Almost all Grand Prix races take place in a different country. The following questions are about Grand Prix countries.
1. What’s the capital city of Australia?
[Canberra]
2. From top to bottom, what colours are theGerman flag?
[Black, red and yellow/gold]
3. Three countries have street circuits. Can you name one?
[Monaco, Spain (Valencia), Singapore]
4. From left to right, what colours are the French flag?
[Blue, white and red]
5. Budapest is the capital city of which country?
[Hungary]
6. Which country’s Grand Prix is held at the Fuji Speedway circuit?
[Japan]
7. Which country has borders with Germany,Switzerland, Italy and the Czech Republic?
[Austria]
8. Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of which country?
[Malaysia]
Q10 THE PODIUM
The drivers that come first, second and third in a race stand on the podium to receive their trophies. The following questions are about Formula One greats.
1. Which racing driver has won the most world titles?
[Michael Schumacher]
2. How many World Championships did Michael Schumacher win?
[7]
3. With which constructor did MichaelSchumacher win most of his world titles?
[Ferrari]
4. Who was World Champion in 2007?
[Kimi Räikkönen]
5. Where is Kimi Raikonen from?
[Finland]
6. Which one driver was World Champion in
2005 and 2006?
[Fernando Alonso]
7. There have been three World Champions
from Brazil. Can you name one?
[Ayrton
Senna, Nelson Piquet, Emerson Fittipaldi]
8. What country is Lewis Hamilton from?
[England]
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: May 13, 2009
http://www.edict.com.hk/vlc/
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: May 13, 2009
Monday May 18th is International Museum Day. This day has been celebrated all over the world since 1977.
1. How often do you go to museums?
2. What type of museums do you like going to?
3. Are there any really good museums in your town?
4. What’s the best museum you’ve ever been to?
5. Which museum in the world would you most like to visit?
Posted by: inclassnumbernine on: August 28, 2009
http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/index.html
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The grey-haired church lady turned international pop sensation, 
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