2016.06.08 Class 32 - Exam on Saturday

Exam practice

Since the exam is on Saturday, today will be devoted to exam practice – a little bit of Listening, Use of English and Speaking at the least.

Good luck to everyone!

2016.06.02 - An article worth reading

“Para aprender inglés hay que pensar en español” 

El profesor británico Paul Seligson cuenta por qué España está lejos de conseguir que todos los graduados hablen buen inglés

http://economia.elpais.com/economia/2016/05/24/actualidad/1464089622_354071.html

2016.06.01 Class 31

Comparative and superlative adjectives in Tibetan!

FCE Exam – Writing part 2

Today we're going to review how to write articles (from Writing part 2) for the FCE. First we'll do an activity to get you thinking and talking about a topic, and then we'll use that topic to write an article in class.

The topic: Learning how to do something new

1) With a partner, talk about something new you'd like to learn (e.g. to play the guitar) and brainstorm how you could learn it (e.g. taking classes from your uncle).

Note that you learn to do something and that you can learn it (by) taking a class.

2) I tell you about a time I learned to do something new and you ask me any questions you have about it when I'm done.

Note the use of the narrative tenses (past simple, past continuous, past perfect) in my description and be aware of them as you prepare your own explanation.

3) Think about how you can explain something new that you learned to do.

4) Take turns describing how you learned to do something new. Ask each other questions, give suggestions and give each other constructive feedback.

Did any of the ideas from 1) above get used?

5) We watch a video in which a new skill is being learned. Did they use any of the methods from 1) above?

6) Look at this vocabulary (p2). Match the words in circles to words in a diamond (◊) to make collocations from the video.

FCE - Articles

1) Now we'll prepare a writing task for Part 2 of the Writing exam, an article. Look at the model article on SBp22 and with your partner:

• Describe the style and tone of the article.
• Where does the article speak directly to the reader? Do you like this?
• Compare other model articles and useful tips on writing them on SBp70 and p91.
• There's also a useful model article on LE Teens, but you can look at that after class.

2) Here's a summary of the Key tips for writing an article:

• Plan your article based on the instructions
• Give it a creative title 
• Try to interest the readers using language like 'Have you ever wondered ...?', 'How would you feel if ...?', etc.
• Give reasons for your opinions and, if time allows, examples of them
• When you finish, check that:
• it's long enough (at least 140 words)
• it has two or more paragraphs
• it answers the questions in the instructions
• it has an appropriate style

3) Now let's look at an article from a real student and exam and see how it was marked. This is on p.27 of the FCE Teacher's Handbook (but we won't look at the feedback at first). With your partner, consider:

Does this article follow the tips in 2) above? What strengths does it have? What weaknesses? What marks would you give it for:

• Content (follows the instructions)
• Communicative Achievement (style of an article, clarity of ideas)
• Organisation (paragraphing, linking words)
• Language (grammar & vocab) 

4) Now you're going to begin preparing an answer to the following exam prompt:

The most useful thing I have ever learned.    What is the most useful thing you have learned?   Who did you learn it from? Why is it useful? Write an article answering these questions. We will publish the best articles on our website.

Plan your article with a partner:

• Think of where you've learned things. Obviously at school, but where else?
• What skill do you use a lot (and therefore is useful)? Or maybe a skill is useful because you enjoy it so much?
• Once you've chosen a skill, think about who you learned it from and why you wanted (or had to) learn it. 
• Why is it useful? (be creative)
• Think about which paragraphs these ideas will go in.
• Think of a title.

Then, start writing your articles individually. Remember to follow the rest of the Key tips in 2) above.

Homework

• Your weekly 75 minutes of contact, which should include finishing the article you started in class.

2016.05.25 Class 30

Exam practice

Today we began by reviewing the Writing paper. We looked in depth at writing emails, and you wrote an email based on the prompt on SBp14.

We then turned to the Use of English. You did a part 4 exercise (transformations) that I created based on the grammar that appeared in the last exam you took. Most of you did much better than you did on the exam.

After the break, we did Listening part 2 practice and then spent the rest of class practicing for the Speaking paper. You practised with each other to prepare for part 1 and then you took turns to do part 2 in pairs, with feedback from your classmates.

Homework

• continue your self-study for 75 minutes

2016.05.18 Class 29

Exam tasks

Today we continued intensive work on exam tasks, since the exam is just a few weeks away. You completed a quick on the Use of English paper from the last exam and corrected it together. Use of Englishes from past exams are a great resource to study!

I also returned your reviews, which were good, and I gave you general feedback on them. Several of you barely or nearly passed the last exam, which is good news!

We also did some Reading and Use of English practice on SBp74 and p77.

Finally, after the break, we reviewed the Speaking parts 2, 3 and 4 using SBp76 and p84.

Homework

• Continue with the progress chart (see last class): spend at least 75 minutes working on English this week. You should view the video of a speaking exam in YouTube (for example, the one below or any other you find by searching for 'FCE Speaking 2015'). Then do whatever else you think is best.

2016.05.11 Class 28

Mock exam

Today we continue and more or less finish the mock exam. We begin with Writing:

Writing part 2 – Reviews

We reviewed the format and important points to consider when writing reviews on SBp38 and pp93. There's also a useful one on LE Teens.

Use of English

We reviewed the Use of English section you took on the last mock exam. It's extremely important to learn from your mistakes in the Use of English, so next week you'll have a quiz on this same exam.

Homework

• Study the Use of English exam that you did last week and which we corrected today. You will have a quiz on it in the next class. (See the answers below.)
• Use the progress chart I gave you in class to help you have contact with English for an additional 75 minutes this week. If you download it using the link, you can click on the links to the different websites you can use to have this contact:
• Flo-Joe Reading **
• LETeens Reading skills (choose B2)
• LE Teens Read UK
• LETeens Magazine
• Exam English Listening **
• LETeens Video Zone
• LETeens Listening Skills (choose B2)
• LETeens Music UK
• Flo-Joe Use of English **
• Exam English Use of English **
• LETeens Grammar & Vocabulary
• Exam English Writing **
• LETeens Writing skills
• FCE Speaking videos in YouTube **

2016.05.04 Class 27

Mock exam

Today we continued with the mock exam, doing the Reading paper and Listening parts 2 and 4. We corrected those two papers after the break and then played another trivia game in the last 15 minutes of class.

Homework

You should continue studying vocabulary and reading and/or listening to English outside of class. Expect a writing assignment in class 28.