COMPOSITIONS 6 and 7

In order to practice for the writing exam, you will have to write two compositions in 60 minutes:

- Write a letter to a friend accepting an invitation to a party. Give details of your travel arrangements (you will arrive by train) and ask if you can stay the night. Give some of your latest news. (Extension: 130 words)

- Complete the story: "We were walking home one night when we saw a strange light in the sky..." (Extension: 150 words)

Deadline: 7th April

28th February to 3rd March (Summary & Homework)

- check homework: worksheet (used to, etc.)
- Vocabulary check in groups of 3: vocabulary in Unit 4
- Video Listening: City versus Country


UNIT 5. Are you happy with your work-life balance?

- Considering our work-life balance in pairs and sharing with the class

- Grmmar 5A: Quantifiers
LARGE QUANTITIES:
a lot of / lots of
much / many
plenty of

. a lot of / lots of
- positive sentences
- + countable plural / uncountable nouns
- “lots of” : more informal
- A LOT OF + noun =

Examples:
  There are a lot of chairs in the class.
  They have a lot of money.
  They have lots of money.

- A LOT + Ø =
Example: You don’t need to buy fruit. There is a lot.

. much / many
- negative sentences and questions
    much = uncountable nouns
    many = countable nouns

Examples:
  There aren’t many bananas in the fridge.
  There isn’t much milk in the fridge.
  Do you watch much TV? No, not much.

• plenty of
- positive sentences
- + countable plural / uncountable nouns
- “as much as we need” (molts = els necessaris)

Examples:
  There are plenty of chairs for everyone.
  Don’t run. We have plenty of time.

SMALL QUANTITIES

  . little + uncountable nouns
  . few + countable nouns
  . a little / a few = some but not a lot
  . very little / very few = not much / not many

Examples:
I would like just a little ice-cream. (some, but not a lot)
This town only has a few cinemas. (some, but not a lot)
We have very little time. (not much)
I have very few close friends. (not many)

too
• too = massa
• too + adjective:
Example: This armchair is too big for you.

- too much + uncountable noun: There is too much traffic.
- too many + countable plural noun: There are too many tourists.

enough
• enough = suficient
• enough + noun
Example: There aren’t enough chairs for everyone.
• adjective +enough
Example: This house is big enough for all the family.


NO QUANTITY
 • any + negative verb
Example: There isn’t any room in the car.
• no + verb
Example: There is no room in the car.
• none (as pronoun)
Example: How much milk is left in the fridge? None

Homework: activities in Grammar Bank 5A, worksheet on quantifiers, grammar practice (exam-type)

- Oral practice in pairs: Going camping and choosing what you are going to take there (using quantifiers)

- Video Listening: "Meeting the folks"

Revise & check Unit 4 - Solutions

Grammar:
a. 1 will / 2 drank / 3 are / 4 would change / 5 arrives
b. 1 c / 2 b / 3 c / 4 a  / 5 c

Vocabulary:
a. 1 village / 2 shower / 3 uniform / 4 exam / 5 friendship
b. 1 subjects / 2 terms / 3 private / 4 professor / 5 suburbs / 6 chimney / 7 roof / 8 gate
c. 1 about / 2 in,with / 3 in / 4 on / 5 at / 6 in

Can you understand this text? (Reading)
a. 1 T / 2 F / 3 DS / 4 T / 5 F / 6 F / 7 T / 8 DS / 9 F
b. court = the place where a judge or jury decide if someone has brokent the law
royalties = money from the sales of a record
chorus = the part of a song which is repeated several  times
kids = an informal word for children
banned = prohibited / didn't allow
regret = feel sorry for something (you did or didn't do)
degree = a university qualification

21st to 24th February (Summary & Homework)

- Scottish Dancing and Singing

- check homework: Reading p. 62

- Oral practice in pairs: used to or usually?

- Grammar activities: 4 C - used to and usually

- usually, used to, to be used to, to get used to

usually + present simple: something you regularly do in the present
used to + infinitive: something you regularly did in the past, but you don't any more

be used to + -ing: something you are trying to "acostumar-te a"get used to + -ing: something you are trying to do regularly

Examples: can you discern the difference among these sentences?
I usually go to the swimming pool on Mondays.
I used to go to the swimming pool on Mondays.

I am used to going to the swimming pool on Mondays.I am getting used to going to the swimming pool on Mondays.

- Oral practice in pairs: used to, usually or get used to?

- How words work... : the uses of GET (p.63)

- Listening p. 63: Friendship and relationships

HOMEWORK:

- worksheet on used to, to be used to, to get used to

- grammar and reading exam practice

further practice

- Vocabulary on "Housing"
. the house
. household appliances
. parts of a house

- Quiz on St. Valentine's Day (click here)

- Listening Practice
. A listening entitled "First Date" (with answers) - click here
. A video listening entitled "Park bench ticket" (with answers) - click here

14th to 18th February (Summary & Homework)

- Check homework: reading p. 53 and worksheet (1st conditional)

- More practice on the second conditional - Personal questionnaire: Are you honest enough?

- Vocabulary on Housing (p.151 + more)

- Oral practice: tell your partner about your dream house....

- Listening p. 58: Four people describe their "Dream House"

- Check homework:
. Worksheet on the second conditional
. Reading "Houses you'll never forget. Casa Azul" (p.59); activities b and c

- Oral practice in groups of three: choosing the best place to live - agreeing and taking decisions

- 4C. Still Friends
Vocabulary: useful expressions - lose touch, keep in touch, get on well, etc. (p.60)
Reading and Listening: Friends Reunited (p.60 and 61)

- Grammar 4C: Used to and Usually
to talk about a habit or routine in the present: present simple
to talk about a habit or routine in the past: used to + infinitive
Examples: I go to the swimming pool twice a week. (habit in the present)
                I used to go to the swimming pool twice a week when I was younger. (habit in the past)


HOMEWORK:
- Reading p. 62: "Do you need to edit your friends?"
- grammar 4C activities a and b (p.134)

Composition 5. Describing your Dream House

Imagine you have won quite a lot of money on the lottery and, thus, you are thinking of buying a new house or flat. Actually, it will be your “dream house” since you can afford it. Write to a friend and tell him/her the following information:

-         What kind of house/flat are you planning to buy? Where is it exactly?

-         Describe the house/flat. What rooms does it have? Does it have any special characteristics?

-         Describe the neighbourhood. How far is it from places of interest, public transport, etc.?

-         Why do you like so much?

You can have a look at the example description in p. 65 in your book.

Extension: 150-180 words

Deadline: 28th^th February

7th to 11th February (Summary & Homework)

- check homework

- Tests Units 1, 2, 3 - correction and comment

- Vocabulary on education: p.150

- Grammar: First conditional & future time clauses (p. 136) - theory and activities
1st conditional (still possible): If (or unless) + present simple, will/won't + infinitive

Future time clauses: remember that we don't use 'will' after as soon as / when / until / before / after
As soon as I get home, I'll call you.
After I finish university, I'll probably take a year off and travel.

- Getting personal... (p. 56): Oral practise in pairs
What would you choose... speaking and class discussion:
. if you could live in another period of time for its fashion, when would you choose and why?
. if you could come back in another life, who (or what) would you like to be?
. if you could change one part of your body, what would it be?

- Grammar: "If I won the lottery, I would get a new house" (p. 136) - theory and activities
Second conditional: if + past simple, would + infinitive
. for hypothetical situations: if I had more time, I would learn French.
. to give advice: if I were you, I would take the job.

- Video Listening activity: Going Green and Durham School

To watch the documentary on Durham School go to the following link:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnosJoldcOU

HOMEWORK:
- Reading p. 53 - "So school these days is easy?"
- Worksheet on first conditional

31st to 4th Feburary (Summary & Homework)

- Looking at some errors from compositions (mock)
- Check homework: adjectives in -ed/-ing

- Verbs of talking and saying (copy - very useful!)
We use SAY when we report someone's words
say + to + person / say + that + sentence
We SAY hello / goodbye / thank you / please / Happy Birthday / Merry Christmas, etc.

We use TELL immediately followed by a person (indirect object)
We TELL someone the time / a story / a joke / your name / address / telephone number
We TELL someone how to do something / why something happened (followed by -wh word)

- Video Listening: Paparazza

- Oral practice in groups of 4: your opinion on paparazzi and celebrities

- ANOTHER, OTHER, OTHERS (revision and worksheet)

UNIT 4. EDUCATION   


- Vocabulary on Education (p. 52 + other)

- Oral practice in pairs: Your education

- Pronunciation (p.52) - how the letter /u/ sounds

- Listening practice: Charlotte and Viktor are waiting for their exam results


HOMEWORK:
- Vocabulary on education (p.150)
- Finish worksheet on another/other

ONLINE ACTIVITY on another-other-others:  http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/anothertheother.html

24th to 28th January (Summary & Homework)

Oral and Writing mock exams

- check homework: the uses of can, could and be able to

- Reading (p.47) "Never give up"
Interesting vocabulary: limb (extremitat), to achieve (aconseguir)

- Listening (p.46) A psychologist talks about how to suceed at learning to do something new

- Vocabulary revision: defining and guessing words from Unit 3

- REVISE and CHECK Unit 3: Solutions
Grammar:
1. should join
2. can't be
3. be able
4. mustn't take/can't take
5. might not / may not
6. don't have
7. must be
8. might be / may be
9. have to
10. shouldn't drink

Vocabulary:
a- 1 mid / 2 length / 3 straight / 4 fringe / 5 wears
b- 1 interested / 2 depressed / 3 boring / 4 embarrassing / 5 frustrated
c- 1 off / 2 back / 3 up / 4 like / 5 in

Can you understand this text:
a- 1 b / 2 a / 3 c / 4 a / 5 b
b- burst into tears = suddenly start crying
sympathetic = understanding other people's problems
I couldn't stand it = I couldn't tolerate the situation
turned down = rejected, refused to publish
deeply hurt = very unhappy or upset

- Debate on how education works nowadays.


HOMEWORK:
- check activities with adjectives -ing/-ed
- Reading: "Separate classes for migrants" from Catalonia Today

TO PRACTICE MORE...

- Listening practice: go to the following website. Watch the video and complete the activity entitled "Health Update":
http://www.xtec.cat/~ncasas12/tercer/healthupdate.htm (very interesting!)

- To practice on verb forms a bit more, go to:
http://a4esl.org/q/h/vf003-do.html

- To practice adjectives ending in -ed or -ing, go to:
http://a4esl.org/q/h/9801/dg-eding.html

17th to 21st January (Summary and Homework)

- check homework: check worksheet on can, could, be able to

- How does the saying finish? Does it work for you? (p. 44)

- Reading: "I'm a failure! I've never been able to..." (p.44)
Remember... be able to is "to have an ability, opportunity, time,..."

- Grammar: modal verbs of ability and possibility - can, could, be able to (p. 134)
Can you play a musical instrument?
Would you like to be able to dance salsa?
Could you swim when you were four years old?

- Oral Practice: communication p. 116/119 and finding out information about your classmates.

- More on "can, could, be able to" - what are their uses?

-  -ed/ing adjectives (p. 46)
. My boss is boring. = person (thing) that casues de feeling
. My boss is bored. = person that has the feeling

Consider the questions (class discussion):
What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you?
Which do you find more tiring, travelling by car or by public transport?
Are you frightened of any insect?
What music do you listen to if you feel depressed?

- Oral practice in pairs and with the whole class

HOMEWORK:
- worksheet on can, could, be able to
- worksheet on adjectives with -ed or -ing

10th to 14th January (Summary & Homework)

- Check homework: word formation crossword

- Unit 3. Judging by appearances
.  How words work...
look + adjective: He looks intelligent.
look like + noun: He looks like an intelligent man.
look as if + sentence: He looks as if he is an intelligent man.


. Listening (p.41): Who is the suspect?

. Oral practice in pairs: finding differences in pictures

. Pronunciation (p. 41)
/ai/ in words such as bright, hight, height
/ei/ in words such as straight, weigh, neighbour

. Grammar: Modal verbs of deduction (p. 134)
Must: you're sure something is true
May / Might: you think something is possibly true
Can't: you are sure something is not true

Check the following examples. Can you see the difference?
. They must be out. There aren't any lights on.
. He hasn't written. He may not have my address.
. He can't be ill. I saw him at the gym.


- Oral practice in fours: "Sob story. Why do you deserve the prize"

- Listening: know about a British/Spanish flamenco guitarist (p.43)

- Oral mock exam: instructions, useful expressions and oral practice in pairs

- Oral comment and practice on the reader History of the English Language in groups

- Oral practice in groups of 3: who do you think they are? (using must, might, may, can't)

- Song: "Big girl you're beautiful" (by Mika)


HOMEWORK:
- Worksheet: 3C "can, could, be able to"