Jan 03, 2016
= questions and answers
A press conference (with Q&A)
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/series/qa
Q & A
Read your question: do you understand it? (if not, ask me or someone else to explain it)
Walk around, introduce yourself and ask everyone your question
Q & A
To deploreTo dislike something very much, often because you think it is immoral
A traitA particular quality in someone's character
BEV
Is there anyone with Paid Educational Leave?
Course Material
Book
English Unlimited: B2 Upper Intermediate
Extra material: audio and video, pronunciation exercises, idioms ...
Online workbook
Powerpoint
On the blog: cvo-bec.net/blogs/e31b1/ (Monday) cvo-bec.net/blogs/e31e1/ cvo-bec.net/blogs/e31d1/ (Thursday)
Required Work
No final exam (but you’re encouraged to revise regularly)
Portfolio: At least one listening report per semester
Two presentation tasks (more info next week)
Required Work: Listening Report
On the blog (see Portfolio) you will find three kinds of listening reports
1) informative: a news show or documentary2) narrative: a film or play3) persuasive : 4 commercials
Watch or listen to a programme, then fill in the appropriate report.
You have to complete one of the listening reports by the first week of November
Please type your answers, print out the document and hand it in in class.
If you want to hand in additional listening reports of a different type (informative, narrative, persuasive) in the course of the semester, you’re welcome to do so.
Required Work: Listening Report
In case of justified absence on the day of a listening test and if you can’t take the test on another day, you can compensate for the missed test by submitting an additional listening report (of a different type than the one you might have already handed in).
Pay attention: there are 4 listening tests programmed in the course of the year and only one of them can be replaced by a listening report.
You will be evaluated on
Your speaking skills in class
Your presentation tasks
Your listening reports and tests
Your Online Workbook
Feedback
First feedback session: end of 1st semester (no mark)
Second and final feedback session: end of 2nd semester
Online Workbook
Registration
Go to http://englishunlimitedowbs.cambridge.org
Enter your access code
Online Workbook
Registration
Go to http://englishunlimitedowbs.cambridge.org
Enter your access code (see envelope)
Enter your class code
Online Workbook
After each class, I will tell you which exercises you have to fill in (you will not have to do all the exercises, but you can if you want).
When a unit is finished, I will give you a deadline by which you will have to complete the exercises.
Absence Justification
Go to http://cvo-bec.net/site/?p=40&lang=en and fill in the form.
If you have a sick note or a note from your employer, you should hand this in as well.
If you can’t make it to your normal class day, please try to attend one a different day (Monday morning, Wednesday morning or Thursday evening). In that case, please send me an email and we’ll arrange a date.
In case of justified absence on the day of a listening test and if you can’t take the test on another day, you can compensate for the missed test by submitting an additional listening report (of a different type than the one you might’ve already handed in). Pay attention: there are 4 listening tests programmed in the course of the year and only ONE of them can be replaced by a listening report.
Important dates (Wednesday Class)
17/9/2014: First class
22/10/2014: Listening test
26/10/2014-2/11/2014: Autumn break
3/12/2014: Listening test
21/12/2014-4/1/2015: Christmas holiday
3/6/2015: Final class
Useful Websites: Listening
Ted Talks www.ted.com
TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.
BBC Radio www.bbc.co.uk/radio/
NPR (National Public Radio) http://www.npr.org/
Useful Websites: Listening
Guardian Podcasts www.theguardian.com/audio
New York Times Podcasts http://www.nytimes.com/pages/podcasts/
Find more podcasts: www.esquire.co.uk/culture/article/5508/21-essential-podcasts/
How can you improve your listening skills?www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv39.shtml
Useful Websites: Speaking
BBC pronunciation tips
www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/sounds/
Useful Online Sources
www.macmillandictionary.com
www.thesaurus.com
www.englishpage.com
Useful Books
English Vocabulary in Use (Upper-intermediate and Advanced), by Cambridge University Press
Advanced Grammar in Use, by Cambridge University Press
English Idioms in Use (Advanced), by Cambridge University Press
Practical English Usage (Michael Swan)
Useful Newspapers
www.guardian.co.uk
www.nytimes.be
www.telegraph.co.uk
www.thetimes.co.uk
Useful Places
www.sterlingbooks.beWolvengracht / Rue du Fossé aux Loups 23
1000 Brussels 02 223 62 23
Boulevard Adolphe Maxlaan 71-75 1000 Brussels02 219 27 08
Useful Places
Muntpunt Librarywww.muntpunt.be
Munt 61000 Brussels 02 278 11 11
How to study vocabulary?
From: English Vocabulary in Use (Upper-Intermediate and Advanced)
How to study vocabulary?
How to study vocabulary?
How to study vocabulary?
Unit 1Talented
Practice Makes Perfect? (p 6)
Practice makes perfectIf you do an activity regularly and you practise a lot, you’ll become very good at it
Practice Makes Perfect?
In groups of three, talk to each other and find out:
1. What each person in your group does (jobs and hobbies?)2. Some things they’re good at, some talents they have3. Would you go on a talent show like Britain’s got talent or The X
Factor? What’s your opinion on shows like these?4. Do you agree with the following quote?
Practice Makes Perfect: A Star is Made
Is this an American or a British article?American
Why? In the US:
Soccer Football
Practice Makes Perfect: A Star is Made
Is this an American or a British article?American
Why? In the UK:
Football American football
Practice Makes Perfect: A Star is Made
What might account for this?Explain
Deliberateintended, not done by chance or by accident
A pursuitthe process of trying to achieve something pursuit of: the pursuit of
happiness
Startlingsurprising, or very unusual (to startle)
OverratedNot as good or important as some people believeOpposite?underrated
Practice Makes Perfect: A Star is Made
A riddlea question that seems impossible or silly but has a clever or funny answer
talk/speak in riddles: to say things that are confusing and difficult to understand
To assessto carefully consider a situation, person, or problem in order to make a
judgment
Cut-off or cutoffa level or limit at which something stops
the cutoff date by which all applications must be received
Self-esteemthe feeling that you are as important as other people and that you deserve to be treated well (self-confidence)
Practice Makes Perfect: A Star is Made
1. Setting particular goals, getting feedback straight away, concentrating equally on technique and results.
2. Students should focus on the things that interest them earlier on, in order to get more practice and feedback.
3. Because, in a team with players from a particular calendar year, the January-born players will be older and therefore stronger.
4. They receive more training, practice and feedback, and therefore also have more self-esteem.
Practice Makes Perfect: A Star is Made
1. set specific goals 2. get feedback3. concentrate on results4. possess talent5. put in a lot of practice (spend a lot of time/effort doing something)6. build up experience7. have the will to succeed 8. follow your interests9. receive training10.have high self-esteem
Practice Makes Perfect: A Star is Made
Memorisation: Learner A chooses expressions from 1–10 at random and says the second part of each expression. Learner B (book closed) listens and replies with the whole expression. Then swap roles.
Practice Makes Perfect: A Star is Made
the ability to do something well, usually as a result of experience and training
Practice Makes Perfect: A Star is Made
Idioms: Effort
What is an idiom?Idioms are expressions which have a meaning that is not obvious from the individual words.
You’re not apologising for speaking FrenchYou’re apologising for swearing (using vulgar language)
Pardon my French, but he’s really an idiot.
Idioms: Effort
What is an idiom?Idioms are expressions which have a meaning that is not obvious from the individual words.
A couch potatoa lazy individual, addicted to television-watching.
Idioms: Effort
In groups of five: every student receives two idioms (on the topic of effort and practice)
You have two minutes to learn these two idioms
After two minutes: give your piece of paper back and teach your two idioms to the other students in your group (ten minutes)
A short test
Idioms: Effort
Idioms: Effort
..\Audio and video\2 Minute Countdown Timer.mp4
..\Audio and video\10 Minute Countdown Timer.mp4
Idioms: Test
Fill in the missing words and sentences
First on your own, then check with your group
Idioms: Test
Idioms: Test
Idioms: Test
Idioms: Test
Idioms: Test
Idioms: Test
Idioms: Test
Idioms: Test
Scotland’s Referendum..\Audio and video\BBC News Scottish referendum The background explained.mp4
When?18 September 2014
Who is allowed to vote?People that live in Scotland (that includes people from Britain, the Commonwealth, Europe).
How old do you have to be to vote?The voting age is 16
Who is going to win?Currently: 49% says no, 51 % says yes
Scotland’s Referendum
England, Great Britain, United KingdomScotland’s Referendum
Scotland’s Referendum
A Scottish dish
Haggisa Scottish food made from the inner organs of a sheep that are cut up, mixed with grain, and pushed into a bag to be cooked. The bag is traditionally made from a sheep's stomach.
Scotland’s Referendum
Sean Connery
Scotland’s Referendum
Scotland’s Referendum
Scotland’s Referendum
Bagpipesa Scottish musical instrument consisting of a bag with several pipes sticking out of it. You play it by blowing air through one of the pipes. Someone who plays the bagpipes is called a piper.
Scotland’s Referendum
A kilta type of traditional Scottish clothing, similar to a skirt, worn by men. Kilts are made of woollen cloth in a pattern called tartan.
Scotland’s Referendum
Online Workbook
Unit 1: Talented
1.1. Routes to success1.2-1.3 Routes to success