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 6, Term 3 : How is silk made?

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Level 3

This week we are writing about HOW THINGS ARE MADE. In class last week you studied How Tea is Produced and Distributed. You also know about How Bananas are Produced and Shipped to Europe and America.

Watch the video above about HOW SILK IS MADE in Bangladesh.

Complete the following exericse:

Instructions:

(i) Put the steps in the correct order
(ii)Change the sentences from ACTIVE voice to PASSIVE voice

A) The women immerse the coccoons in boiling water. The silk worm inside the coccoon dies.

B) The women collect and sort huge piles of golden silk worm coccoons

C) The women wind the raw, silk thread onto a spindle. They dry it and then ship it to a textile factory

D) After boiling, the women cool the coccoons and take them to a loom. They unravel the coccoons onto the spool.

TO READ THE SCRIPT (& FIND THE ANSWERS) CLICK HERE

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 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 :

Week 2, Term 3: Where were you ...?

Where were you 40 years ago when the first man walked on the moon? What were you doing? Did you watch the event on TV or listen on radio? Did you read about it in the newspaper?

This week we have been talking about important historical events.

Level 2 and 3 students will give short talks, some of which we will video and record.

Choose one of the 'big events' in your lifetime. We discussed the following in class (but you can choose something different if you like).

1. The end of the Soviet Union (1990)

2. September the 11th terrorist attack (2001)

3. Democracy comes to Portugal (1974)

4. The fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)

5. The assassination of John F. Kennedy (1964)

6. the Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004)

QUESTIONS:

(i)Where were you when the event happened?
(ii) What were you doing?
(iii) How and when did you hear about it?
(iv) How did you feel? What was your reaction?

Watch the videos and do some research using Google search - web and images. You can use pictures in your class talk if you like.

RECORD YOUR TALK / INTERVIEW WITH A FRIEND AT VOXOPOP IN THE DISCUSSION 'WHERE WERE YOU...? IMPORTANT HISTORICAL EVENTS IN OUR LIFETIMES'. CLICK HERE.

Please feel free to contribute to the Voxopop discussion - even if you are a teacher or outside follower of this blog. We appreciate your contribution.

We are also looking at the use of FOR / SINCE / AGO. Click here to do some online exercises.

Week 1, Term 3: Singing in the Rain

What's the weather like?



CLICK HERE FOR THE LYRICS TO 'SINGING IN THE RAIN'



Click here to get the weather forecast where you live.

Do you like hot or cold weather? What's the weather like where you live? Is it likely to rain? Is the weather in Melbourne like the weather in Sydney?

The word 'like' in English has many uses. It can be very confusing. Do you understand the difference between:

to like
to be like
to be likely

What does the expression "like father, like son" mean?

INTERNATIONAL WEATHER - WHERE IS IT LIKELY TO RAIN?

CLICK HERE TO CHECK THE INTERNATIONAL WEATHER FORECAST


In class we discussed the use of TO BE LIKELY / UNLIKELY. Click the link below and using the 0-50% (unlikely) / 60-100 % (likely) formula list 5 countries where it is likely to rain.

(ii) Choose one of the international cities and tell a friend or your teacher the weather forecast for the coming week.

Level One : Telling the time (Matching Games)

There are two types of clocks - analogue and digital. We can tell the time in different ways. We practiced this in class, now let's play some fun matching games ...

CLICK HERE TO PLAY THE 'TELLING THE TIME' MATCHING GAMES














LISTENING : Telling the time - Clocks and Watches


CLICK HERE TO DO A LISTENING EXERCISE ABOUT TELLING THE TIME