Telling Stories

Assessment Task Access 1 (VPAU 494.3 - Listen to a Simple Oral Text) 

Assessment Task Access 1 (VPAU 494.4 - Give Simple Information)

Level 1

We have been listening to and reading stories and jokes in class this term. Telling a story in another language can be difficult. Here is the simple story telling model we used to help us.

Model

Opening Hello friends, today I'm going to tell you a story about …

Reason I chose this story because … (it is funny / sad / amazing / scary)

It is a good story to tell kids / to tell adults only / to tell anyone

Tell the story eg. A long time ago …. / … in America / Australia / Vietnam ...

Opinion I liked this story because …. / I didn't like this story much because …

Closing Thank you for listening to my story. Do you have any questions?

Remember:

*Keep your sentences short.

*Use the past simple - this is the best tense to use for telling stories.

LISTEN TO A RECOUNT

Here is Hoai's oral recount of a story we read in class (the original comes from the book, True ESL Stories)

GRAMMAR : Past Simple (in songs and stories)

Exercise Using the Past Simple : My Best Holiday

Play the video and follow the instructions ... fun!



FACEBOOK

What is our class discussing on Facebook this week? Join the 38 members of Dale Pobega's Free ESL Club Facebook Group

What do you think? Which Victorian city (apart from Melbourne) is the best? It seems most of the group like Geelong! Join us and give us your opinion.

Week 6, Term 4 : The Future

ACCESS 1 and 2

Watch the video about the FUTURE TENSE (WILL vs. GOING TO)



The teacher above explains the basics but she is not telling you the full story about EXPRESSING THE FUTURE in English.


GRAMMAR : Talking About the Future - 6 Different Ways

We talked about the 'very soon future' in class (about to) that is, when we are on the point of doing something. WILL and GOING TO can also be used for talking about the future but the shade of meaning is different.

In fact there are about 6 ways of expressing the future. LEVEL 3 students click here and read/listen about the 6 ways we can talk about the future.

1. Going to +verb = Intention, prediction
2. Will and Shall = a future fact, a sudden decision, an offer, a threat, a promise, an opinion about the future, a probability especially after think, suppose, expect, doubt if
3. to be + -ing (Pres. Cont for the future) = future plans
4. Present Simple for the future = something already arranged / part of a program or timetable eg. The train leaves in half an hour.
5. Is to / Are to = express something officially arranged. eg. The party is to be held at the Community Centre
6. About to / due to = To express that something is going to happen very soon or is expected to happen soon.




JEALOUSY - A STORY ILLUSTRATING THE 6 WAYS WE TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE

LEVEL 3 STUDENTS CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY

1. Read the story that shows the 6 ways of expressing the future.
2. How do you think the story will end? Send me an email or leave a COMMENT below




SPEAKING AND LISTENING - MYSTERY BOY

Go to Voxopop and listen to the DISCUSSION called :

MYSTERY BOY ... Telling a Tale (Click here)

If you are in Level 2 or 3 you might like to add your own version based on the activity we did in class this week.

Week 7 & 8, Term 3: Making Complaints

Level 3 : Listening

This week we have been learning about making and responding to complaints. On public transport, in the workplace and when we go shopping - there are many opportunities for this. This week I am introducing you to a new listening site called Elllo.org. There are hundreds of listening lessons for you and the speakers are from all over the world. In the lesson below, Todd is complaining about Hollywood films. Do you agree with him?

Complaints about Movies. Click here to do an exercise from Elllo.org!

Click here to choose other listening lessons from Elllo.org. (Also listed in the sidebar of this blog).




In class we listened to the conversation between an inspector and traveller on public transport. The inspector gives the lady a $158 dollar fine but the lady protests. The ticket machine at Yarraville station was broken. The inspector tells the lady to write a letter of complaint.

Click here to see a complaint/feedback form for METLINK.

Print out the form and practice writing a complaint.




Include the following information:

Time you were travelling

Where you were travelling from

Where you were travelling to

What happened

Why you didn't have a ticket

What you want Metlink to do



The Past Continuous

We use this tense in the following ways:


*Emphasizing 'the progress' of an action in the past
Example: He was playing football.

*Talking about two actions happening at the same time (in the past)
Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.

*Talking about action going on at a certain time in the past
Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.

For more information ...click here!

Test yourself on the Past ContinuousLevel 1 / Level 2 / Level 3

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Week 5, Term 3: The Red Balloon

Level 1 : The Red Balloon



Last weekend I watched a wonderful film called The Red Balloon by the French director, Albert Lamorisse. It is a film with only a few words so anyone can watch it and enjoy it.

You can watch it here (but it is 33 minutes long). I will show you this film in class from DVD.

1) Click here and PRINT OUT the worksheet. Read the questions before you watch the film..

2) Watch the film and complete the worksheet.

SONG : UP, UP AND AWAY (IN MY BEAUTIFUL BALLOON) - THE FIFTH DIMENSION (1972)

Here is a great song about 'balloons' ... maybe like the film it is about joy and freedom?



Here are the lyrics for some Karaoke. CLICK HERE.

APOLOGISING

Match the opening and closing phrases (A and B):

A

I’m sorry…
I’m very sorry…
I’m terribly sorry…
Excuse me…
Pardon me…
I apologize…
I’m afraid…

B

…I wasn’t very well yesterday
…I didn’t see you
…It won’t happen again
…I’ll be more careful next time
…I’ll finish it before I go home
…It’s my fault
…It’s all my fault

CLICK here to listen to the above phrases

Level 2 & 3 : SAYING SORRY (BBC Audio Lessons)

Click here to do a lesson from the BBC about Saying Sorry

Click here to do a lesson from the BBC about Accepting Apologies

Week 8: Let's Party!

Hello friends. Hope you liked the BIRTHDAY BLOOPERS :-)Now the serious stuff ...

ACCESS 1 & 2: INVITING SOMEONE TO A PARTY

This week we are learning how to make INVITATIONS and ACCEPT or DECLINE INVITATIONS. Have you had a party recently? Did you invite friends and family over the phone.

In class we listened to Sam inviting Hanna to his daughter's birthday party.


EXERCISE ONE : Now I want you to write a similar dialogue.

READ and PRINT this WORKSHEET called INVITING SOMEONE TO A PARTY. Follow the model. Write your own dialogue in the second table on the worksheet. CLICK HERE.

EXERCISE TWO :With a friend record your dialogue in the discussion called MAKING INVITATIONS at VOXOPOP.COM. Click here.

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ACCESS 2 and 3 : WHAT JULES, JULES and DALE DID NEXT (PART 2 of the MOVIE)

Here is PART 2 of the video students. Were your stories the same, similar or different to what happened in PART 2 of the movie? Did you like the movie? Leave a COMMENT below if you like.

Access 2 (Sunshine West) and 3:

EXTREME (and OTHER) ACTIVITIES

This week we are looking at Lesiure Activities - extreme ones like EXTREME IRONING and your favourite activities, maybe cycling, walking, swimming or knitting - whatever you like.

DOWNLOAD this worksheet called EXTREME AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

You have completed the listening exercise in class. Fill in the table and add your own answers.

Go to our Talkgroups at VOXOPOP and leave a message in the discussion called EXTREME AND OTHER ACTIVITES. Make sure you cover all the points about EXTREME IRONING as well as YOUR FAVOURITE ACTIVITY.

(Remember the general rule about the use of VERB -ing with 'activity nouns')

Week 7: A Sunday Bike Ride

On Sunday, I went for a ride with my friends, Jules and Jules (yes, they have the same name!) Watch PART ONE of the movie we made.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? / WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT?



With a friend look at the photos.

(Exercise i) Can you put the photos in order (1-8)to complete the story?

(Exercise ii)Write what you think is going to happen in PART 2 of the movie.

START YOUR STORY LIKE THIS ...

It was a nice Sunday morning. Dale and his two friends went for a bike ride. They crossed the Yarra river on the Punt ...

(Exercise iii)Copy your story into the COMMENTS section below (look for the little pencil and the word COMMENTS)

CLICK HERE to get a web-copy of Exercise i and Exercise ii

In the next lesson I will show you PART 2 of Jules, Jules ... and Dale Go for a Sunday Bike Ride. You can compare your story with the movie!


ROAD SAFETY - STOPPED BY THE POLICE

In class this week we are looking at road safety. We are also reading and understanding fines. Have you been stopped by the police before? Why did they stop you? (eg. speeding, drink driving, to check your licence or registration)

Watch this video? What do you think it is about? What is the message? Are the police good or bad? Write your answers in the COMMENTS section below.