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2nd Year Oral English 1 - Week 8 - Midterm

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2nd Year Oral English 3 - Week 5 and 6 - Judgement

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2nd Year Oral English 3 - Week 4  - Judgement

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2nd Year Oral English 3 - Week 3 - Listening

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2nd Year Oral English 3 - Week 2 - Listening

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This free resource is good for many things, but one thing you may not have considered, is that it is useful  for finding an English speaking or translating job. If you dedicate one hour a week to your Padlet, you will  have  the most amazing example of work by the end of the first semester. So, be creative and express yourself .

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Positive Thinking and  Motivation:        Why practice Speaking and Listening?      

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Positive Thinking and  Motivation:        Why practice Speaking and Listening?      

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Motivation is a very powerful driving force. People are motivated by many different things. For me, learning something new and useful is a very  strong motivator. Additionally, getting out of your comfort zone is necessary when you're learning new skills. Before you attend your first Speaking Class, think carefully, honestly and deeply about why you want to, need to or have to learn English. Write down your reasons and put it somewhere  you will see it.  This will  help  you  focus.
There are two main types of motivation. Intrinsic ~ comes from a personal reason. For example, because you want to speak to a relative in English, or you want to teach English. The other most commonly known type is extrinsic motivation ~ which is a motivation  that is external to you. For example,  to get promotion .  However, bear in mind, often these two  overlap.
Another important element  to your success in English is positive thinking. Research  shows the more you focus on positive  aspects  of life, visualize  your success and congratulate yourself and others, be happy and positive , the more successful  you will be. This is  a fact. You are training your brain to be successful.
So, let's see  what  we  can  achieve  in Speaking  Class, shall  we?

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What is translation and what does it involve?

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What is translation and what does it involve?

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As translators, discuss with at least one other student what you think makes a good translator.  First, rank these in order of importance.  Give justification and examples for your answers:
1. People skills - the ability to see things from another person's perspective.
2.  Understanding the technicalities of both English and Chinese.
3.  The ability to give your own interpretation of a monologue or dialogue in order to translate another person's words.
4.  An understanding of the culture and context of the person speaking.
5.  The ability to remain impartial, objective and the ability to use evidence to support a translation.

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Listening task 1.  Who manages pollution?

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Listening task 1.  Who manages pollution?

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Listening Task 2.  Should a university education be free for everyone?

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Listening Task 2.  Should a university education be free for everyone?

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Listening Task 2 Script - University education.

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Listening Task 2 Script - University education.

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Upload a one-minute video of yourself to your Padlet telling me why you choose the seven people from the Planet X class task

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Record yourself speaking for one minute and give your view on why university education should or should not be free.

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Language is a strong reflection of a culture.  It is important to understand what is considered skillful in English conversations and in British society and universities.  If you spend some time reading and listening about this, you should notice some differences between Chinese culture and Western culture.  Though, maybe there aren't as many differences as you may think.  I don't know because I am very new to China.

Although we are not focusing on Academic English in our classes, this website is very useful, and all the skills are transferable.  Meaning you can use them in many situations, formal and informal.  Before your next Oral English class, read and listen to the following:

Discussion Skills
Discussion skills (eapfoundation.com)

Then answer the following questions, below.  You could write a short reflection and post it to your Padlet if you feel inspired.

1.  What skills mentioned in the webpages on Discussion Skills do you think you need to practice more, and which do you think you are good at?
2.  Are any of these new to you and do you think they are the same in Chinese culture? Think about how you would explain any differences to someone who doesn't know Chinese culture.

And, if you feel like it, post a reflection on your Padlet page, under Week 3.

Additionally, read pages 29 - 35 of English Think Public Speeches.

Make notes from both the webpages and the book.

We will focus on speaking and listening in classes.

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Discussion skills How to take part actively in academic talks

Discussions are a key part of university life. Although you may lack confidence initially when speaking in a group discussion, your confidence will grow as you understand more about how to participate in discussions, and learn some formulaic language such as giving opinions, agreeing and disagreeing and asking for clarification.

Like the website? Try the book. Enter your email to receive a free sample from EAP Foundation: Academic Presentations.

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Author: Sheldon Smith ‖ Last modified: 03 February 2022.

Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Improve discussion skills by learning how to participate and phrases for giving opinions, agreeing and disagreeing and asking for clarification.

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This week you are going to take part in a seminar discussion and record your group discussing the following:

What makes a good language learner?
Remember when you are taking part in a seminary you should:
1.  Ask for and give definitions on the topic, or related topics.
2. Listen actively to what other group members say.
3. Respond to what others say and ask for more information if necessary.

After you have recorded your seminary discussion (four minutes maximum), think about how well you did in the following things:
1. Asked for definitions or explanations.
2. Defined or explained your key terms/ideas.
3. Listened and responded to other people.

Think about one thing you could improve upon for the next seminary and write two sentences underneath your Padlet Task for Week 3.  For example:

When Mark was defining focus, I wanted to ask for more explanation, but I felt shy. In future, I will have useful phrases at hand to make me more prepared and less nervous.

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Useful phrases Week 3 - Listening and discussion

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Make a recording discussing a common crime in China.  Discuss why you think it is so common, why people do it, and how you can stop people doing it.
One minute only.
The PPT for this week and next week, will be uploaded next week, as we are not finished it.

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Thesis statement:  Being educated to the highest level in society is a fundamental human right.

Agree/disagree.  Persuade me!

Use the first conditional in your argument.

Record yourself discussing your answer to this question and add it to your Padlet.  One minute only.

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First conditionals worksheet - some answers

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There are a couple of slides at the end, which we will continue in Week 7.

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2nd Year Oral English 3 - Week 6 - Persuasion

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1.Read the document called Rubrik and Advice from class today.  Posted above.
2.Look at both of your recordings (yours and your partner's) from class today.
3. Think about ways, both you and your speaking partner in class today can improve your speaking.
4.You have to then review their answers and give them two pieces of advice to help them improve their spontaneous speaking, using the Rubrik I gave you.  Or other advice about speaking spontaneously.
5.Additionally, as well as the two pieces of advice, you have to demonstrate how they could do it better.  Only demonstrate what you were advising them.
Advice
For example:  I think you could use more adjectives when describing things, you love or dislike.
Demonstrate
Then: Record yourself demonstrating using more adjectives.
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Remember, you now have time to think, but in a real English-speaking situation you don’t have as much time to think. So, be kind with your advice.

Doing this exercise repeatedly, asking random questions and trying to speak for as long as possible, before your friend gets to ask another English question, is a very good way to improve your spontaneous speaking.  And record yourself, to see your progress and improvement.

Confidence is the one thing that will improve your learning overall.  Don't aim for perfection.  Aim for frequency.  Perfection will come the more you practice.

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FINAL WEEK TO FINISH ALL PADLET HOMEWORK DEADLINE Friday 21st

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FINAL WEEK TO FINISH ALL PADLET HOMEWORK DEADLINE Friday 21st

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2nd Year Oral English 3 - Week 7 - Seminar Discussion Prep for MidTerm

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For the PPT

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Please become familiar with this. Read carefully before class.

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Discussion Topics Midterm Assessment - Pre-Reading (Essential)

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Discussion Topics Midterm Assessment - Pre-Reading (Essential)

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MIDTERM PREREADING and DISCUSSION TOPICS

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As you progress through Oral English you should continually assess and reflect on your own performance and your peers’ performances.  After you have finished the discussion write a reflection for your Padlet, under Week 7, (50 words maximum) on the following:

1.Did you manage to make points based on what you read, listened to and your own ideas?

2.Did you check your understanding and other people’s understanding?

3.Did you refer to points made by other people, either your classmates or in the seminar or text, or in additional texts?

4.What is one piece of advice you would give to yourself and one piece of advice you would give to other students (do not mention names)?

Remember to use kind and supportive language –  speaking live is more difficult than having time to reflect and think about what you can say.  For example:  I think some students talked a lot more than others.  Maybe the quieter students can practice using common phrases to be heard more often.  Examples:  Can I just say…; May I add something here?; Do you mind if I say something?

MAKE NOTES NOW AND AFTER CLASS

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As we spent a lot of time discussing the UN, and you took part in a seminar on this subject.

You have a little time now to reflect on what you think.

Make a one-minute recording on whether you think the UN is truly global and inclusive.

Introduce your one-minute video this week using one of the

phrases we discussed in class/slide 16:

1.From a financial perspective; financially speaking; financially

2.Geographically speaking; as far as geography is concerned; from a geographical perspective

3.As far as ethics are concerned; ethically speaking; ethically

You can also use:  personal perspective; economic perspective; national perspective; humanitarian perspective; neutral perspective; business perspective; etc.

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Your final assessment will be a presentation/speech.

You will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the difference between these.  We will cover these aspects in Weeks 9 - 16.

You can develop both speaking skills by listening to speeches in English, and noting what you think is effective.

In terms of presentations:  look at the structure of a presentation, in comparison to the structure of a speech.

Stand in front of a mirror and talk!

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Your Padlet task for this week is your Midterm.  Because this is a group discussion, and is about ten - fifteen minutes long, you won't be able to upload it to Padlet and leave yourself with enough megabites to upload the rest of your recordings for this semester.  So, you will make the recording in class and send it to me directly, before the class ends.

Best of luck!