Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Benefits, Risks, Dangers, Relationships

 VPAU 505.4 - Write a descriptive or narrative text 



Exercise 1 - Viewing/Discussion : Watch the video. What is "Le Parkour" or "Free-Running"?

(In class or with a friend at home) make a list of its ...

BENEFITS (eg. develop fitness)
RISKS/DANGERS (eg. break bones)

Review : Giving advice

What advice would you give to someone interested in starting this activity?

Practice using these openers in your discussion ...

*If I were you ...
*You should/shouldn't ... / You ought to / oughtn't ...
*It would be a good idea ...
*Don't ...
*Remember to ... / Don't forget to ...

***

Exercise 2 - Listening/Dictation/Vocabulary: About Free-Running

1) Download the fold/listen/fill the gap worksheet (fold the answers out of sight)

2)  Listen to the dictation "Free-Running" (Mp3 - 400k) here

3) Fill in the gaps
4) Check your answers on the fold/listen/fill the gap sheet

(Remember: you can right click on the Mp3 link to download the dictation to your computer. Keep it in your own listening text collection for future use)

***


Exercise 3 - Reading : Free Running (from New Headway, Oxford Uni Press)

In class we read a story about one of the pioneers of Free Running or 'Le Parkour'. If you missed the class, ask me for a copy of the one-page story.

Download my Reading Comprehension Questions here

***

Exercise 4 - Writing (Opinion): 

What do you think about Free-Running (First draft)


Write a first draft in class. Use your Benefits/Risks/Dangers list (Exercise 1) as well as your completed worksheet (Exercise 2) to help you.

Bring your draft to class for the writing workshop. You can then write your final copy and choose how you submit it to me.
***

Grammar : Order of Adjectives


eg. A talented, French free-runner
eg. A beautiful, antique, mahogany wardrobe
eg. An eerie, dark Winter's night

Do you remember the general rules for ordering adjectives in English? (See Murphy, Grammer in Use, 3rd Edition, Unit 99)

Knowing about this order of adjectives can help with writing descriptions.

The best rule is to keep your descriptions simple - no more than 2 or 3 adjectives when describing a person, thing or situation.

Activity:

Play games and exercises to review this grammar (British Council)

***

Speaking: Describing People 

Discussion : With a friend spend a few minutes ...

...describing yourself

...describing your partner or a friend

Viewing(Real English)

Watch the video ... what do people say about each other. Focus on one or two couples only



Exercises : Complete the comprehension exercises for this video at the Real English website

***

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP!!!

If you are an ESL student you can apply to join Dale Pobega's Free ESL Club Facebook Group

This is what has been going on recently ...


Friday, November 8, 2013

Raising Children / Accidents / On the Road

 VPAU 505.4 - Write a descriptive or narrative text / VPAU 505.3 - Follow a set of written instructions on a familiar process

Descriptive Texts / Narratives (VPAU505.4)

This story was written for children in 1831. What does it try to teach children? 



Reading/Writing:

Do you think children are as kind and obedient as they were in the past? What is the best way to raise children?

Read the opinions of other ESL students from around the world (Topics Online Magazine, Issue 10)

Practice Assessment Task:

a) Complete a first draft in class and get a native English speaker (or your teacher) to check your work.

b) Write up a final copy and bring it to class for discussion and sharing.

Your teacher will explain to you what she or he expects to see in the assessment task you will complete in the coming week or two

Assessment Task (505.4) - Write a descriptive or narrative text

Click here or on the link to go to the back issues page of TOPICS MAGAZINE

Choose a topic from Topics Online Magazine

a) Read the opinions of others
b) Write your own opinion on the topic
c) Show your teacher the first draft
d) Bring your final copy to class for your teacher to assess)

















Grammar - Adverbs of Degree

This week we were reviewing Adverbs of Degree. Watch the video and complete the exercises as you watch

 

***

Accidents / On the Road

VPAU 505.3 - Follow a set of written instructions on a familiar process



What do you do if you have an accident -- or if someone damages your car?

Spelling/Vocabulary:

insurance / registration / cover / third party / comprehensive / compulsory / property / policy / premiums / excess / accident / damage / police /

Watch the video and discuss or answer the questions ...

Questions

1) What do the drivers exchange?


2) Does car registration cover the driver for damage to another car?

3) What does Compulsory Third Party (CTP) Insurance cover? What doesn't it cover?


4) What is Third Party Property (TPP) insurance? What does it cover? What doesn't it cover?

5) What does Comprehensive Insurance cover?


Listening / Dictation - An Accident (based on the video above)

1) Download and print the fold / write / check worksheet from here

2) Listen to the dictation A Car Accident. Complete the dictation.

Grammar/Vocab: Reference for self study: English Vocab in Use (Unit 30 - On the Road)

Role Play / Writing

Let's act out the accident situation above.

A. Write a similar dialogue with a friend.

B. Record your dialogue at Dale's TalkGroups in the discussion, A Minor Car Accident (voxopop.com) or on my ipad if you prefer


Games - BBC English - Instructions


Delivery Driver BBC English Game


Read the instructions and have a go! Lots of fun! 

Also try "Destination Impossible" to practice following and giving instructions in English.

***
FACEBOOK

What are we talking about on Facebook? Are you an ESL student?

 Join the 45 members of Dale Pobega's Free ESL Club