WEDNESDAY 18 JANUARY 18 - 20

Here you can find a dialogue where two students compare different ways to improve their English

Joint task - http://www.ukstudentlife.com/English/Exams/Oral.htm

To compare the different methods they use comparative and superlative forms.

You can study these in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G096Jdl2XVo

There is also an explanation in International Express Elementary Pages 51 and 52.

You can think about the best way to learn a language by answering these quiestions

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_B2HZ_bIslV3l1cHE5ZktsdUU/view?usp=sharing

WEDNESDAY 18 JANUARY 2017 16 - 20

What can you do when you can't remember a word in Eng;ish?
You can describe it.

It's a person who

It's a thing which

It's a place where

It's similar to

It's the opposite of

Use these phrases to describe the media words on Page 96 of PET Result

There are media words in the Listening exercise on P97.

In part 1 of the PET and First you listen to seven short recordings and for each recording you have to choose the best of three pictures. You can listen to the audio twice.

Read the questions and underline the key words - pronouns, names and tenses in particular.

Look at the pictures and name what you see.

This will help you to identify the correct information in the audio.

You can practice further on these sites

http://www.examenglish.com/PET/PET_listening.html

http://www.english-online.org.uk/petfolder/petlistenp1.php?name=The%20Listening%20part%201

MONDAY 16 JANUARY 18 - 20

NOVEMBER 16 16 - 18

Look at these signs. What do they mean? How can you explain these signs to foreigners?

No Smoking

Do not smoke

You are not allowed to smoke here

You must not smoke here

Warning / Danger of death

Don't touch / enter

Keep away

Don't speed

Drive slowly

You must reduce your speed

You should drive slower

Wash your hands

You can wash your hands here

You should wash your hands

Here we see that we can give commands / orders in three ways

1. Using the imperative

For a positive command use the verb in the base form without subject

Walk! Come! Enter!

For a negative imperative, add Do not or Don't

Don't smoke!

Do not enter!

2. Using modal verbs

must - FOR ME, IT IS NECESSARY - I must call my mother

have to - THE LAW OR THE RULES SAY IT IS NECESSARY - You have to have a passport to go to the USA

In the negative form these verbs have a different meaning

must not - IT IS FORBIDDEN-  You must not smoke in public places

don't have to - IT IS NOT NECESSARY - I don't have to work on Sundays

Try to use these verbs to complete these phrases about life in Italy

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_B2HZ_bIslUzFPVEpGb2VJV1E/view?usp=sharing

Should means it is a good idea and is used to give and ask for advice.

Practice using this worksheet

http://www.macmillaninspiration.com/original/files/2010/07/INSP2_ws1.pdf

3. Using alternative phrases such as - It is allowed / forbidden etc

See here for more information

https://www.espressoenglish.net/common-english-words-permission-obligation-prohibition/

You can read an article containing these verbs in International Express Elementary Unit 9 Page 78

These verbs can help you with the KET reading test Part 1.
See here for more exercises

http://www.englishaula.com/en/ket-exam-reading-and-writing-cambridge-key-english-test-video-lessons-practice-tests-exercises.php

MONDAY 16 JANUARY 2017

Do you write in English?
Writing can be a  great way to practise using the new words, phrases and grammar you have learnt. You have more time to think about what you want to say and how you want to express yourself.
Why not find a penfriend?

https://www.mylanguageexchange.com/Pen-pals/Language/English.asp

You can copy and identify phrases that mother tongue peeople use. This will help you to sound more natural.

Also in Cambridge writing exercises it is important to start and end well. Using fixed phrases is a great way to do this.

You can find a list of useful phrases here

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/preliminaryenglish/writing/phrases-for-informal-letters.htm

In the Preliminary exam you have to write a short message and you can choose to write a letter.

You can find examples in PET Result.

Short message - Page 23, 35, 37, 49, 63, 101, 110

Letter - Page 29, 43,55, 57 (ex. 6), 69, 75, 89, 111

It is important to practise as much as possible, so please do some of these tasks and send them to me for correction.

In the First exam you are also asked to write giving your opinion about  a subject.

Sign up to the Flo Joe writing class to practise.

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/writing/

WEDNESDAY 11 JANUARY 18 - 20

We looked at a dialogue between two people arranging to meet in International Express Elementary, Unit 7.

When they talk about their future plans they use the present continous.

You can read about these here

https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-m_future.htm

and click on the link for the quiz.

Look at these questions about future forms.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_B2HZ_bIslM2xEYVZjMXFlaUU/view?usp=sharing

WEDNESDAY 11 JANUARY 16 - 18

Thinking of synomyms for words that we commonly use is a great way to build your vocabulary.

When you learn a new word, think of words that are in the same family. Are there any related verbs, nouns, adverbs, adjectives, synonyms and antonyms?

Look at this example with the verb employ.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_B2HZ_bIslWktZNUg0M3I1Qmc/view?usp=sharing

and try to do the same with the word friend.

Here there is a lot of information about prefixes and suffixes. They can help to discover the meaning of a new word by seperating it into parts.

http://www.esl-galaxy.com/prefixsuffix.html

You can find more exercises here

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/word_formation.htm

This is also useful for the Use of English Part 3.

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/strategy/p3pt5a.htm

In one exercise, 'Dress Code' there are similar verbs about clothes.

See here for an explanation

http://www.slideshare.net/inmadom/wear-put-on-and-dress

MONDAY 9 JANUARY 18 - 20

A good way to learn new words is to practise describing a photo.

What can you see in the photo? 

When describing a photo you can think of different elements.

You can find them here.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_B2HZ_bIsleU15QlFXakhKSFE/view?usp=sharing

To learn how to talk about position in a photograph see this document, pages 3 and 4

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_B2HZ_bIslMUNSTUZkc2lwcms/view?usp=sharing

You describe what the people are wearing, what they are holding and what they are doing. You can use the present continuous.

For more information on the present continuous see Unit 7 International Express Elementary.

We can also use the present continuous to talk about tendencies in society, when things increase, decrease or stay the same.

See here for more examples.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_B2HZ_bIslZllEaXhZWDR5bzQ/view?usp=sharing

Use these pictures to describe other trends in society.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_B2HZ_bIslTno2RlJPcXQ5VFk/view?usp=sharing

MONDAY 9 JANUARY 2016 16 - 18

What word can we use use to complete ALL three of these phrases?

Do you _________ if I smoke?

- Which do you prefer? Tea of coffee? - I don't _______.

- Sorry I can't come. - Never ______. Maybe next time.

Many words in English have more than one meaning. so it can be interesting to focus on one word and investigate it's different uses.

See here for more examples with mind.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_B2HZ_bIslcV9Yd2JUUEpBZW8/view?usp=sharing

See here for another example with the word change.

http://www.tefl.net/esl-lesson-plans/TP_All-Change.pdf

Mind is also used in many idiomatic expressions.

See here for more examples

http://recursostic.educacion.es/multidisciplinar/wikididactica/images/Idioms_mind.pdf

 Knowledge of common phrases and idioms are tested in PET Writing Part 1 and FCE Reading and Use of English Part 4 Key Word Transformation.

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/preliminaryenglish/pet-writing-practice-tests.htm

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/strategy/p3pt3a.htm