Wednesday, October 16, 2019

SC1 Plus 16 October 2019

LINKS

Here are the links from this week's class:
World Happiness Report 2019: https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2019/
Very British Problems: https://twitter.com/SoVeryBritish
The Prison of Your Mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaRO5-V1uK0 

HOMEWORK
Only about half the class handed in the first writing assignment on time. It's important to keep up! Here it is again:
Use the mind map you generated for homework to write a description of your happy place. Try to use around 200 - 300 words. Plan your writing carefully - divide your ideas into clear paragraphs, draft it and redraft it if you need to. Use descriptive language, and try to use the literary techniques we looked at in the first class. Most important, allow yourself to be creative! 

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Secondary Plus C1, Wednesday 9 October 2019

Hi everyone. Sorry for posting this a bit late. 

Homework from this week's class was: 

1. Use the mind map you generated for homework last week to write a description of your happy place. Try to use around 200 - 300 words. Plan your writing carefully - divide your ideas into clear paragraphs, draft it and redraft it if you need to. Use descriptive language, and try to use the literary techniques we looked at in the first class. Most important, allow yourself to be creative! 

2. Think about the work you did in groups on the Teen Retreat. Note down any more ideas you come up with, or anything you think your group should change or take away from the plan you have so far. Remember, nothing is set in concrete yet!


Saturday, October 12, 2019

Secondary Plus B2, Friday 11 October 2019

Our focus this afternoon was on making timelines and presentations. We listened to interviews about Madison Stewart and Scott Neeson (who Afonso refused to believe was a real person) and then watched videos about them: 

Madison 

Scott

There was an interesting discussion between some students about whether or not it is possible to be happy without money. Well done those students for having an animated debate in English! 

Some people weren't sure about how to use the past perfect tenses. Don't worry, we'll look at this again in a future lesson. 

After the break we watched a video  - Wrong Side of Heaven - about heroes who serve their country and are then discarded by it. 

You then worked in groups of three, researching a hero, making a timeline of their life, and preparing a brief presentation about them to give the class. You will give your presentations to the class at the beginning of next class, so make sure you're ready. If you didn't quite finish in class, make sure to coordinate with the other members of your group before next lesson! 

Homework

1. Make sure your presentation and timeline are ready. Nicely presented timelines will go on the board! 

2. Exam Practice Book page 142 - Blind Pilot. I will check you have done this in the next class! 

Saturday, October 5, 2019

SB2 4 October 2019 Links and Homework

Hi Everyone

First of all, well done for a really great class yesterday afternoon! There was a lot of speaking and most people were in English most of the time. This is the way to go - a very positive start! 

Here are the links from tonight's class: 

We started off with this song - Nobody's Hero by Rush: https://youtu.be/0ZokLZV35MI

While you were discussing the two teenage heroes, I played the soundtrack for Amelie in the background: https://youtu.be/CQG7KVUDaJM

Remember, the word which means 'exchange opinions about something' is 'discuss'. You are discussing something. You are not disgusting, which means 'nojo' or 'repugnante' in Portuguese. 

We watched this news item about a 'have-a-go hero' saving a baby who was about to fall from a balcony: https://youtu.be/ZEqWh6fl_sA 

The heavy metal guitarist, who you thought was a tall thin old man with a beard and a bandana, was actually Yuki of D_Drive: https://youtu.be/fo4lCKHhfmk

One mischievous student suggested that I should play a Queen song while you were discussing people like the Dalai Lama and the Queen (of England) to confuse you. Pick a Queen song of your choice. 😏

We talked about an ex-student of mine who lost the use of her legs - one of you knew about her through her father.You can find out about her here, here, here and here

Homework

Do the listening exercises here: https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/upper-intermediate-b2-listening/my-hero