Advanced 2 - 19:10-20:40 by https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld Info and updates about our class en-us 2017-10-03 09:03:52 UTC 2023-03-11 06:56:26 UTC hello@padlet.com 2/10/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/193318291 Today's lesson:
1) we discussed last lesson's homework (this article) - how does the journalist encourage you to click on the headline? how are emotions described?
2) We reviewed the vocab from last lesson.
3) We listened to someone's first day at work (p. 80, track 28) - can you remember what the following means:
- 'take no notice of her'
- 'she's pulling your leg'
- 'slave driver'
- 'down to earth'
Were there any other words we looked at?
4) We looked at how to use 'then' to make deductions and you had to do exercise 8 as homework.]]> 2017-10-03 09:05:28 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/193318291 Using corpora andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/193884151 Do you remember the other week when I showed you how to use corpora (the massive databases of language you can search to see how English is used)?
Here are some links you can follow to have a play around to see what you can find out:
http://corpus.leeds.ac.uk/itweb/htdocs/Query.html 
https://corpus.byu.edu/bnc/
Why not use these links to see what you learn about these words:
  • get
  • roll
  • cut
  • banana
  • mobile
Is there anything surprising/interesting you find out about them?
]]> 2017-10-04 14:29:29 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/193884151 04/10/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/194205600 Today's lesson:
1) We tried to remember what had been said by various people in the recording last week.
2) We then looked at the reasons why we use the continuous forms: 
  • Show an activity or event is/was unfinished at a particular point in time.
  • emphasise that we see an activity or situation as temporary
  • focus on the activity happening over a period of time - as opposed to the result
  • talk about arrangements and activities based on a previous decision
and discussed how using this can affect meaning.

I also provided the link to this Padlet site - welcome to those who made it!

Homework:
Workbook p.52-53
]]> 2017-10-05 09:11:57 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/194205600 My favourite podcasts andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/194205643 So the way I pass the time on the 522 bus from my flat to the BC is to listen to a range of podcasts. Here are a few of my favourites, perhaps you might find them interesting:

Casefile - A podcast about true crime. You can learn about some famous and less well-known cases. recently, they put together a 3-part series about the Jonestown massacre where the phrase 'drink the Cool Aid' comes from. It's a truely chilling and emotional story.

Hardcore History - If you have a lot of time on your hands and are even slightly interested about history, this is for you. The podcaster, Dan Carlin, provides insights and stories about some of the more gruesome periods of history. The series on the First World War is a must (and is still free!), but I love the episode 'Prophets of Doom' which is about the period of the Reformation.

Reply All - A bit lighter than the previous 2, this podcast looks at stories about technology and the internet. I recently loved a story about a woman who was getting many mysterious phone calls to her work number.

These are just a few. Did you given them a try? What did you think? Why don't you share the podcasts you enjoy with everyone else?]]> 2017-10-05 09:12:03 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/194205643 09/10/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/195508213 Today's lesson:
1) We looked at some infographics about work and discussed how relevant they are to Poland.
2) In groups, we tried to match some words to their meanings:
  • creche /kreʃ/ or /kreɪʃ/
  • absenteeism
  • dismissal
  • perk
  • subsidised
  • tribunal
  • voluntary redundancy
  • crackdown
  • casualisation
  • compassionate leave
We used the activity on page 84 to help.
3) We then had a focus on the pronunciation of these words - considering the syllables and word stress
Homework: Read the text 'The Living Dead' on page 83.
]]> 2017-10-10 10:00:04 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/195508213 Exciting news - Free speaking clubs johnward6 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/196030708 Have a look at our range of free speaking clubs for all BC students]]> 2017-10-11 14:02:28 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/196030708 11/10/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/196326577 Today's lesson:

1) We looked at 4 true and 1 not true news story about working conditions. We discussed how much we agreed/disagreed with the outcomes
2) We looked at 3 other case studies and tried to decide what should happen.
2) We played Godzilla and Tornadoes. Congratulations to the girls for overcoming the boys' challenge.

Homework:
p54-55 in the workbook.
Don't forget to enter the competition to win tickets to watch Yerma!
]]> 2017-10-12 09:09:25 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/196326577 16/10/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/197682193 Today's lesson:
1) We reviewed some of the vocab we had looked at in unit 9. I've created a Quizlet where you can test yourself or play some vocab games to review it. You can find it here: https://quizlet.com/_3vh35k
2) We looked over the homework, reacting to the text 'The Walking Dead'.

some other new phrases which came up were:
to be burnt (burned) out
Something is an exception, not a rule.

3) We started to look at the world of health and illness, discussing some pictures.

4) We read this attached text.]]> 2017-10-17 08:44:11 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/197682193 18/10/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/198568798 Today's lesson:
1) I told you a story about how I managed to break my brother's foot with a snowman (if you didn't come, you missed out).
2) We looked at how to use vague language and how that affects the message:

  • I told her to go to the doctor and they will help you.
  • I sort of told her to go to the doctor, or something, and they will help you somehow.

  • Go home and take 50mg of paracetamol or codeine and come back next week.
  • Go home, or whatever, and take a whole bunch of these pills or stuff like that, and come back in a week or so.
3) You invented a story and told that story to each-other.
The homework is the first assessed piece of writing.. See the separate Padlet post for more information!!
]]> 2017-10-19 09:04:18 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/198568798 Writing assessment andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/198568827 As part of your course, I will be assessing your speaking, writing, listening, reading and language skills.
We will soon be doing a speaking assessment, but this week I want ot get some writing from you.
The task
You should write a story about a medical mishap. You can use the workbook page 59 to help: this provides an example and some language you might want to use.
How I assess you
You will get a final score out of 20. I arrive at this by giving the following criteria marks out of 5:
Task: How well have you answered the question? Does it have an appropriate structure (start/middle/end)?  Do I, as the reader, enjoy this story?
Grammar: Is there a range of language? Is it accurate? Is the range of language appropriate to the task? In this case, does the type of grammar help to make the story interesting?
Vocabulary: Similarly to grammar - is there a good range and accuracy of language?
Organisation and coherence: Is the text well-organised? Does it use linking words to help the reader follow the story in terms of sequence of events and time/place/etc?]]> 2017-10-19 09:04:23 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/198568827 Phonemic chart andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/199883915 Something some students find useful is recognising the sounds in the English language. 
You can use this downloadable chart to help you - pay particular attention to the vowel sounds and try to produce them for your self.]]> 2017-10-24 08:27:12 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/199883915 23/10/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/199883941 Today's lesson:
1) We talked about doctors and listened to 5 doctors talking about their profession.
2) We looked at a number of phrasal verbs:
  • outbreak
  • breakthrough
  • work out
  • drop out
  • up bringing
  • crack down
  • run up
  • shake up

Make you all do the writing assessment below.
]]> 2017-10-24 08:27:25 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/199883941 Counselling andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/200716289 Next week, we will be having one-to-one counselling sessions where we get to have a conversation about how things have been going. To help you reflect on your performance and the course, you should complete this form. I look forward to speaking to you next week!]]> 2017-10-26 08:38:43 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/200716289 25/10/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/200716710 Today's lesson:
1) We looked back to what the 5 doctors from last lesson said and matched quotes to them.
2) We discussed how by using modals the meaning was affected.
3) We looked in depth at 7 of the 9 modals and why they are used and completed a table as attached.

Homework:
Do the practice exercises on p.177]]> 2017-10-26 08:40:21 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/200716710 31/10/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/202052111 Today we did some counselling and you created a presentation to promote a campaign. Next lesson we will hear from the other group of presenters and do an assessment to see how much we have learnt this term - so you should prepare for this.]]> 2017-10-31 09:56:34 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/202052111 6/11/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/204272804 Today's lesson:
We finished off the unit on health by reading and discussing mindfulness on page 90-91. If you found this interesting, you can have a look at other articles or videos about how to 'be mindful'. In the interests of balance, I came across this article about why mindfulness might not be good for everyone.]]> 2017-11-07 10:34:14 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/204272804 08/11/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/205178249 Today's lesson:
We looked at vocabulary connected with sports:
get knocked out
scrape through
overturn/uphold a decision
be caught doping
get thrashed
be sent to the sin-bin
to be suspended/substituted/dropped
to fade
to blow it
to fix a match
to get cramp/feel stiff
to sponsor somebody
Homework: to do the language review I'd been promising for a week or so - we will look at it on Monday]]> 2017-11-09 09:29:05 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/205178249 13/11/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/206631543 Today's lesson:
We (finally) went through the language review. Most of you did pretty well, but there were still a few questions about using modal verbs.
Then we listened to 3 conversations about sport, which we used as a launchpad to look at using irony for humour.
While spoken or verbal irony is used mainly for humour, it had different uses in different genres. This video explains how irony is used in horror and comedy movies. How are the 3 types of irony different? Can you think of any examples of dramatic irony from films or TV shows?]]> 2017-11-14 10:06:36 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/206631543 Quizlet for Unit 11 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/206642035 Some of you were asking about a Quizlet set for Outcomes unit 11. Here's the link - Enjoy!]]> 2017-11-14 10:44:52 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/206642035 15/11/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/207729831 Today's class:
Today we looked at puns and wordplay. We started off with a review of sporting vocab, which you can look at again in the quizlet set below.
We then enjoyed a selection of puns taken from the link below.
These puns led into a listening about word games, where people talked about using Scrabble.
Homework - Workbook p64-65]]> 2017-11-16 15:46:49 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/207729831 22/11/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/209643171 Today's lesson:
We had a practice where you got spoken practice of the linking expressions from the previous lesson, consequently you were better able to use them. As a result of this, you should remember to use them while you produce written and spoken English.
We then started to discuss history - historical events in general and a connection to personal history. We also looked at some vocab. You can find a Quizlet set in the link.
For homework, you will find it useful to do the exercise on linking words on page 66 in the workbook and the vocab section on page 70 of the workbook.]]> 2017-11-23 09:31:59 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/209643171 27/11/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/210790542 Today's lesson:
We reviewed the vocab from last lesson and then listened to a story about an Asian gentleman's life. We then picked up on some of the phrasal verbs which were used in the story:
passed off
turns out
passed away
start off
moved on to
get ahead
set off
start up
built things up
lit up
dwell on
we briefly looked at similes - there'll be a bit more time spent on it next lesson.]]> 2017-11-28 09:21:49 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/210790542 Today's lesson andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/211772134 We started off with some Shakespearean insults, such as:
“His wit’s as thick as a Tewkesbury mustard.”
“Thou art as fat as butter.”
“Here is the babe, as loathsome as a toad.”
"You have such a February face, so full of frost, of storm and cloudiness."
"No longer from head to foot than from hip to hip, she is spherical, like a globe, I could find out countries in her."

Then we learnt about some historical mysteries like the Dancing Plague of Strasbourg and listened to an academic-style discussion of the theories of its cause.
We then looked at how to discuss arguments and theories using words and phrases like:
put forward; proposed; established; claimed; argue; contend; allegedly; asserted; highlighting; emphasising; questioned; challenge; etc

Homework: Workbook p70 and 75. You should  do a bit of research on a historical person or even as you will be presenting something next week!

If you want to know more about historical mysteries, you can read about some here:]]> 2017-11-30 10:31:08 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/211772134 04/12/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/213198557 Today's lesson:
We looked at giving presentations about history. After discussing what 'top tips' we would give to people for making presentations, we then listened to an introduction and compared that to the books' tips. We considered how the speaker tried to engage the audience through asserting their thoughts and beliefs. After listening to the rest of the presentation, we analysed the overall structure of this presentations and presentations in general so that next lesson you can prepare one of your own.]]> 2017-12-05 09:40:28 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/213198557 06/12/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/214028570 Today's lesson:
We read excerpts from some famous speeches and analysed them for their purpose and how the speaker exploits the language to support their intention. What effect does certain styles or structures have on the audience?: 
Why does Martin Luther King use abstract language, while Churchill uses active verbs? How does using long or short sentences change the dynamic of the speech? How can using simple or biblical language have on an audience? Can you use the same style or type of language in different situations?

The examples came from the website linked below.

Homework is to research and prepare for your presentation on Monday.

]]> 2017-12-07 09:52:03 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/214028570 11/12/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/215329035 Today's lesson:
It turned out no one was prepared for their presentation, so we will do them on Wednesday instead.
We looked at newspaper headlines - first of all looking at varieties of media (tabloid vs. broadsheet) and the differences between them in terms of content and language use. We then looked at common language used in headlines and the reasons behind the choice of this language:
Why choose to use 'vow' instead of 'promise'? Why use the present tense to describe past events? Why use the passive voice?

For homework, I suggested you check out some of the media we looked at, perhaps the Daily Mail, the 'king of tabloids', to see how they create headlines to act as clickbait]]> 2017-12-12 09:42:07 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/215329035 13/12/2017 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/216088097 Today's lesson we saw some terrific presentations about Polish culture. Iwo showed himself to be the champion of culture by answering more questions than the others.
We then watched a short summary video of the news and considered how to use reporting verbs - we looked at the meaning and the grammar of them.

]]> 2017-12-14 10:04:23 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/216088097 03/01/2018 andy_wright1 https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/218700635 Today's lesson, we started to look at fashion and style. We looked at some new vocabulary on p.134.

To keep up with the topic and to give you something to think about over the weekend, here is a bit of reading about why fashion is ugly.

Have a look and we can talk about it next week!]]> 2018-01-04 10:24:49 UTC https://padlet.com/andy_wright1/4zug7f19vzld/wish/218700635