Describing People

VU21433 : Give and Respond to Basic Instructions and Information

Listening/Watching/Writing
Watch the video "Describe People" and complete the sentences using this worksheet (Word doc)

Reading and Writing (Englishwsheet.com http://www.englishwsheets.com/index.html)

Exercise 1

Read and learn this English to help you describe people Describing People Picture Dictionary (PDF)

Exercise 2

Describing people (PDF)  (Download and complete this worksheet from englishwsheets.com) 

Story - A Thin Man              (eslfast.com)

Here is a story about Richard. 
Why is he a thin man?
What does he eat for breakfast?
What does he eat for lunch?
What does he eat for dinner?
What do you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Are you thin? How do you stay healthy?

Reading and Writing - Simple Descriptions

We did a pair exercise in class. It was about Lady Gaga, Kate Middleton and Wayne Rooney. Do you remember the questions we use for these words you find on forms?

A. (Name)
B. (Date of Birth)
C. (Nationality)
D. (Job)
E. (Residence)
F. (Family)

Exercise 1: Can you match the questions (below) and the words (above)?

1. Where were you born?
2. What is your name?
3. Do you have any children?
4. When were you born?
5. What do you do?
6. Where do you live?

eg. B.1 

Exercise 2 : Download this worksheet and do the writing exercise.

Read the story about Yannis. Use the story to help you write about yourself

Grammar - To Like vs. To be Like

What is the difference when we say "I don't like it" and "It is like fish"?

Watch these American children talk about tasting Vegemite for the first time.

Do they like Vegemite?
What do they say it looks like?
What do they say it smells like?
What do they say it tastes like?

Here is a worksheet for watching this video (and doing the Vegemite taste test yourself)

Australian Art

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VU21473 Investigate Australian Art and Culture

What is Art? Where do you find it? Who is Art for? Is it important? What is a gallery? What is street art? Do you know any famous Australian artists? Do you know any local artists?

Photo: This paste up by local artist, Baby Guerrilla, is just across the street from our community centre in Duke Street, Sunshine.

We started our investigation by looking at the work and ideas of Baby Guerrilla. Visit her website.

Assignment 1: Baby Guerrilla (Duke St students only)


Online Lessons About Art (Source: Breaking News English.com) ...

Pensioner Attacks Famous Work of Art (an interesting lesson about opinions with listening, speaking, reading, writing and grammar activities-

The Louvre is the Most Visited Art Gallery (about the famous gallery in Paris, different types, styles of painting - 40+ activities)




Australian Artists : Art Trails (Source: Art Gallery of NSW) / Talking about works of art

Artist/ Title/ Year/ Materials/ Dimensions/ Location

Can you remember how to form questions for describing works of art?
eg. Artist = What is the name of the artist who made this work of art / painted this picture?

These trails were made for kids visiting the Art Gallery of NSW. We can use them too.

1) Follow the art trails below (click on the links)
2) Click on the paintings and make a note of the Artist / Title / Year / Materials / Dimensions / Location

Australian Beach Pattern  / Desert Landscape  / The Red Shawl / First Class Marksman

3) With a partner talk about the works of art

Listening: Tom Roberts, The Golden Fleece (1894) - (Source: Art Gallery of NSW)

1. Download the MP3
2. Download the Comprehension worksheet

3. Listen a few times
4. Download and check your answers

You can look at the painting by Tom Roberts here


Grammar: Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses

eg. Tom Roberts is the Australian artist who painted The Golden Fleece in 1894.
eg. I really like that painting which we saw yesterday.

Review and complete these online exercises (Source: E-Grammer.org)

If you are still unsure, watch this video ... (source: engVid.com)

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 ...

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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)

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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

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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.
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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)

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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

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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 ...

Animals - Past, Present and Future (?)

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Level 2 : Write an information text

Watch the video above. It was made on the Japanese island of Okinawa.

What is the animal in the video? Where does it live? What does it eat? What else do you know about it?

Exercise 1: Locating informtion & Organizing Ideas :

Download and print the information sheet about Dugongs.

Work with your teacher or a friend and describe the dugong's ...

habitat .......................................

body .........................................

diet ..........................................

behaviour.................................

Exercise 2: Computer skills (search for information, print a collector's card, send an e-card)

Look at these photos ...

What would you say about the animal above? What is its name? How would you describe its body? Where is it found? Where does it live?


Print this page to find out more and create a Collectors card 
(National Geographic)

Use the information to add to your information text

Exercise 3: Sending Information (E-Cards)

Now you know about the animal above, send an e-card to a friend. Click here

Read about another animal at the same website. Read the facts, watch the video, look at the map, print a collector's card, send a friend an e-card

Exercise 4 : Information text (2)

What do you know about this creature?
What is its name? How would you describe it? Where does it live? Describe its habitat? What do you think it eats? What else should we know about it?

Download, print and complete this exercise

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ON FACEBOOK?

Join the 38 members of Dale Pobega's Free ESL Club on Facebook now!




Information Texts : Extinct Animals



What do you know about the Tasmanian Tiger?
What other extinct animals do you know about?
Why are these animals extinct?

Read about the Tasmanian Tiger at Simple English Wikipedia. Click here.

CATEGORIES:

*size
*weight
*appearance
*life expectancy
*diet
*location
*environment
*current numbers

Can you write a paragraph about the Tasmanian Tiger using the CATEGORIES above as well as CONJUNCTIONS (but / and / however / although, etc) to join your sentences.


ENDANGERED ANIMALS

Find out about endangered animals, why they are endangered and what we can do by watching this presentation:

endangered animals powerpoint1

See more presentations by Calvin1 | Upload your own PowerPoint presentations

OUR CLASS BOOK : ESL ENDANGERED ANIMALS

Click here to download our Simple English Wikipedia Book called "ESL Endangered Animals".

1) Download the ESL Endangered Animals book above.
2) Use the questions / categories we studied to help you write short sentences about one of the animals in the form.

3) CLICK HERE to go to the FORM




Level 1 - Read and write a simple information text

In class we read about the Yellow-Eyed Penguin from New Zealand.

Making questions from Information Words. Finish writing the questions

Height : How tall are they?

Weight: How ___________________?

Age they live to: How long __________________?

Home country: Where ______________________?

Number left: How many _______________________?

Food: What __________________?

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Level 2 - Writing Notes : Don't Forget to Feed the Cat!



Imagine you are going on holiday for two weeks. Here are some things that need to be taken care of:

*garden
*pets
*mail and newspapers
*rubbish bin
*security



Karaoke ... The Tiger (Abba, 1976)



Enjoy this song ... from my childhood! A good way to end this unit

Hair Cuts

  DISCUSSION : In class this week we talked about hair, haircuts and hair styles.

Do you like your hair? Where do you get your hair cut? Would you like a new hairstyle? Would you like highlights or a new colour? 


VOCABULARY: long, short, medium length, bald, blond, brunette, red head, curly, straight, permed, dye, tint, highlights,shaved, trim, layered, tapered, fringe, side-burns around the sides / on the top / up the back
 / combed / blow dried / shampooed/

Can you add some more words? Here is a vocabulary list to download (word doc)

READING / LISTENING 1: 

Listen and/or read the story about Susan.

Exercise 1 : Download and complete this comprehension exercise

Exercise 2 : Listen to the story and complete the dictation. (Fold / write / check)

 WRITING 


Watch the video below. How does this woman trim her hair. Can you write instructions?

 

GRAMMAR GAMES : Having / Getting something done ... (Level 2 /3)

Grammar Notes

Exercise One (Put in Order)

Exercise Two (Mix and Match)

Exercise Three (Complete the sentences)

Other interactive exercises like these are at http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/index.html

SPEAKING : Asking the hairdresser or barber for a haircut

Here are some Level 2 Role-plays about going to the hairdresser





Use the video to help you write your dialogue about going to the hairdresser or barber with a friend ***

Australian History : Federation and the White Australia Policy

Australia became a country in 1901. The colonies became states. This was called Federation. The first policy of the new Federal government was to make sure that "non-white" people did not come to Australia. This was called "The White Australia Policy."

Why do you think Australians in those times did not like non-white people?

What is racism? What is prejudice?

Can you think of other examples of racism?

Was there racism in the country you came from?

Watch the video above.

Now try this dictation (and find out more about the White Australia Policy) ...



Print out this dictation (fold, listen, write and check)


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ROMAN CATS

Rome is full of cats! The volunteers at Torre di Argentina cat shelter take care of them. Which cat would you choose?



Click here to meet (and choose) a Roman cat you can write about in the exercise below

ACCESS 1 : Read and Write Simple Information Texts : Design a Poster

A LOST CAT

In class we have been reading and writing descriptions of people, places, animals and things.

1) Use this poster to help you design your own.

2) Print this blank poster.

Let's pretend you adopted a Roman cat. Use your Roman cat to write your own LOST CAT poster.

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Reading (Level 1)

Easy Dialogues (short conversations + audio)


Super-Easy Reading (stories, audio, vocabulary, cloze and sentence writing)


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Listening (Access 1 Practice Test)

An Accident in the Bakery



We have been listening, reading, writing and speaking about accidents and scary experiences.

1) Watch the video above.What happens?

2) Watch again.Print and complete this PRACTICE TEST about the video.


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Australian History : Gold : Hero or Villain? Peter Lalor and Eureka

WANTED - £200 REWARD

Name: Peter Lalor
Height: 5 ft 11 inches
Age: 35

Hair dark brown, whiskers dark brown and shaved under the chin, no moustache, long face, rather good looking


This is how they described the leader of the Eureka Stockade miners ... read more about Peter Lalor and Eureka.








The Southern Cross Flag.

This was the flag of the miners at Eureka. How is it like the Australian flag? How is it different? What is missing from the Southern Cross flag? Do we need a new Australian flag? Should we change our flag? Why? Why not?

Flags of the World

Do you know these flags? Do you know the name of the country and nationality? (eg. Australia / Australian, Greece / Greek)

How well do you know the different flags of the world. Try this fun quiz.









Describing People

Here are some faces of the world ... young, old, rich, poor, happy and sad

Download this worksheet about describing people (PDF)

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Week 4, Term 3: What is it used for?

Look at these Japanese inventions.

What are they used for?

Do you think they are useful?



Have you got one of those things you use for ...?
Have you got some of that stuff you use for ...?

Often we do not know the name in English for something. Even native English-speakers do not know the names of many tools, instruments or products they may need.

It helps if we can DESCRIBE the object we need the best way we can.

Remember the ORDER OF ADJECTIVES we studied last week? (opinion -> size -> age -> shape -> colour -> origin -> material -> purpose). These can also help us describe something we do not know the name of so someone else can guess and help us.

eg.

Person A: Have you got some of that black, sticky stuff you use for cleaning shoes?
Person B : Do you mean 'shoe polish'?
Person A: Yes, that's it! Have you got any? Can I borrow some?
Person B: Sure! Here you are.
Person A: Thanks a lot
Person B: You're welcome.

PAIR WORK:

With a friend create some dialogues like the one above. Pretend you do not know what these objects are:

PLIERS
AN EGG FLIPPER
CHOP STICKS
A SET OF SCALES

With a friend record a DIALOGUE at Voxopop in the discussion called BORROWING THINGS / ASKING FOR STUFF ... CLICK HERE

PASSIVE VOICE:

In class we have been using the ACTIVE VOICE to describe objects. However, we often use the PASSIVE VOICE INSTEAD.

eg. ACTIVE VOICE :

You use a set of scales for finding out how much you weigh.

PASSIVE VOICE:

A set of scales is used for finding out how much you weigh.

We use PASSIVE VOICE when we are more interested in what the OBJECT does rather than who the SUBJECT of the action is.

CLICK here to do an exercise on WHAT THINGS ARE (USED) FOR

ACCESS 2 & 3

A CAR FOR EVERYONE?

Would you like this car? It's from India. What is it's name? What type of car is it?




CLICK HERE FOR THE WORKSHEET. PRINT THE WORKSHEET AND WATCH THE VIDEO AGAIN. ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

We studied the following in class:

Used for / used to (purpose)
used by (person)
to be used to (accustomed)
used to (remote past tense)

Study the difference in meaning.

Exercise 1:

Do this exercise Used to do or Be Used to. Click here.

Exercise 2 :
Write a short paragraph in the COMMENTS section below.

Tell me what you think about the REVA Electric car? What do you like about the car? What don't you like? Are there problems with REVA , especially driving here in Australia?

Week 3, Term 3: Describing People and Things

This week in class we are DESCRIBING PEOPLE and THINGS. Watch the fashion show above. Do you like the clothes?

What clothes can you see : skirts? jackets? ... What colours are they? ... What are they made of?

What do you think this English expression means: CLOTHES MAKETH THE MAN

Do you think fashion is important? Is beauty important?

What do you think this English expression means: BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER


MR WORLD 2007



Do you like beauty contests? Here is Mr.World 2007, Juan Garcia from Spain.

Can you write a short paragraph about him using full sentences? Leave your description in the COMMENTS section below.







Name:
Age:
Clothes (colour, material):
Hair (length, type, colour):
Height (approximate):
Weight (approximate):

Level 2 and 3 ...

For more information about Juan go to: http://www.mrworld.tv/index.php/en/mr-world

*What are Juan's interests?
*What is his job?
*What is he studying?
*What is his life goal?

Here is Juan winning the award in 2007. Do you think he is the most handsome man in the World?



GRAMMAR: Order of Adjectives

In class you learnt the formula : opinion -> size -> age -> shape -> colour -> origin -> material -> purpose

Click here to find out about the correct order of adjectives in English. Read the explanation and do the exercises.

Exercise #2 : Click here to do an exercise that teaches you the correct/incorrect order of adjectives.


SPEAKING : What do you look like? What are you wearing today? Tell the class at VOXOPOP.COM (click here).


FOR FUN ... take a look at these 'bloopers' on the catwalk :