Wednesday, February 29, 2012

How Things Work

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Week 3/4/5 Assessment Task: Follow Simple Written Instructions and Directions (Access 2)


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BUYING A USED CAR

Watch the video and answer the questions at the end of the clip ...



What happened a little later ...?



How does the story end for our American friends ...?








Car Problems (Level 2+)

Try this Listening Exercise called Car Repairs (Randall's ESL Listening Lab)(difficult / American English)

If you have problems print the listening script and listen a few more times.

Grammar (Level 2)

In Case vs. If

In class we discussed the use of "(just)in case". We also discussed when we use if.

Try these two exercises:

Exercise One (ToTryEnglish.com)

Exercise Two (ESL Lounge.com)

Grammar 2 : Use of the Passive Voice

We also discussed the use of the Passive Voice when we give instructions or an explanation to someone about the way things work.

Try this exercise about Bill Gates Car (ESL Blues)

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Level 2+ : WRITE AN INFORMATION TEXT (PROCEDURES) ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MUMMIES



























What do you know about Ancient Egypt? Do you believe in life after death?

The ancient Egyptians were very sophisticated people. They buried their dead in a special way to help them get safely to the afterlife. They made "mummies".


Download the story Tombs and Mummies



1. Read the story and answer the questions in your book. Use your dictionary for any new vocabulary.



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LEVEL 2+ : GRAMMAR REVIEW:

We use the IMPERATIVE for giving instructions (exercises 1 -6)

We use the PASSIVE VOICE for explaining a process
or procedure (exercises 1 - 7)

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DISCUSSION

What is your favourite sandwich? What ingredients do you need? How do you make it? Share your sandwich recipe with a friend. Tell the rest of the class or another person about your friend's favourite sandwich.

Level 1 and 2+ : Mr. Bean Makes a Sandwich




Watch the Mr. Bean video.

How did he make his sandwich?

What ingredients did he use?

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Level 1 : SPEAKING : HOW TO MAKE A DAGWOOD SANDWICH

Look at this picture with your friend.



1. List the ingredients

2. Download this worksheet and complete









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Level 2+ : Listening ... My Favourite Sandwich



Questions ...

1. What are the two types of sandwich the speaker likes most?
2. What does a Foccacia have in the middle?
3. How do you heat up a Foccacia?
4. What is good to drink with a Foccacia?
5. What type of bread do use to make a Lebanese roll?
6. What is the speaker's opinion of the Lebanese roll?

Or Download a PRACTICE MULTIPLE CHOICE test


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STUDENT SANDWICH RECIPES






Listen to these recipes by Level 1 and Level 2 students on VOXOPOP.

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Learning Mountain



Week 1 / Week 2: Term 1 / Assessment tasks: Level 1 VPAU 501 Plan Language Learning with Support / Level 2 VBQU117 Develop and Document a Learning Plan and Portfolio with Support

Welcome back to Duke Street! I hope you enjoyed the Summer holiday?

Let's think about Learning.

Learning English is like climbing a mountain ... it can be very difficult! But if you have good training and tools it can be a lot easier.

Discussion Exercise 1: What do you need to learn another language well? What tools do you need? Order these from 1-8 in importance:

motivation / dictionary / a teacher / other people to practice with / computer and internet / textbooks / a class / CDs, tapes and videos

Can you think of two other "tools" you need?

Discussion Exercise 2: Learning Mountain

We study Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking skills in our English class. Which skill is the easiest for you? Which skill is the most difficult?

1. Print out this Learning Mountain exercise
2. Fill it in by yourself - from easiest (base) to most difficult (peak)
3. In groups of 4 compare your Learning mountain. Are your feelings / opinions the same or different?

Download Learning Mountain worksheet (PDF 60kb)

Now compare your Learning Mountain about learning English to my own learning mountain about learning Spanish. Are your feelings / opinions similar to mine?

Download Dale's Learning Mountain worksheet (PDF 72kb)

Grammar: Adjective / Comparatives / Superlatives

easy --> easier --> the easiest

difficult --> more difficult --> the most difficult

the same --> the same as

different --> different to/from

similar --> similar to



Learn more about Comparatives / Superlatives with this fun interactive game.

From The Childrens University of Manchester.

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Level 2 : Relative Clauses : ... who ..., ... which/that ..., ... where, ... what

Here is a simple mini-lesson for explaining how to use Relative Clauses (using guessing game quizzes)