LESSON 5: FREE TIME AND LEISURE

1) READING COMPREHENSION. Sydney Identity.

2) USE OF ENGLISH: "A MISERABLE HOLIDAY"

Extreme adjectives to study:



3) LISTENING: An unusual routine

LESSON 4: EXAM PRACTICE

1) READING EXERCISE: "THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT GOSSIP".Match the paragraphs to the headlines given.

2)LISTENING PRACTICE: 1) Listen and match the extracts with the headlines given. 2) Listen and choose the correct option.

3) USE OF LANGUAGE. You'll find lots of exercises to practise for this part HERE.



If you haven't been able to hand in the writing task, you can give it to me next week.

LESSON 3: TALKING ABOUT HOUSES AND HOMES

1) READING COMPREHENSION: "HOW GREEN IS YOUR HOUSE?"

2) TYPES OF HOUSES: VOCABULARY

3) SPEAKING ABOUT HOUSES AND HOMES:

Let's watch this VIDEO: "How to describe your home in English"

Prepare these questions to talk in pairs about "Housing and home"

Conversation Below there are some of the questions about the topic. Choose two or three you would like to talk about. The pictures are there to help you.
1. When you were a child, did you have to share a bedroom with your siblings? 2. Which are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a small house / flat / apartment? And living in a big one? 3. What would your ideal house or apartment look like? 4. Do you have many decorations in your home or is it bare?
Partner A Talk about at least two of the questions bellow. The examiner may ask you more questions when you have finished.  Do you like the place where you are living? Why or why not?  Is there anything (any item in your house) you couldn´t live without?  Give some reasons why some people become homeless.
Partner B Talk about at least two of the questions bellow. The examiner may ask you more questions when you have finished.  Describe how you go about buying a house in your country. How difficult is it to get a mortgage and buy your own house?  How long have you lived where you live now?  Do you like keeping animals in your house?

LESSON 2: TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION

1) CONNECTORS TO ADD NEW IDEAS IN A TEXT:

We will use the same sentences in order to illustrate how the words are used and to show their different positions in the sentences.  The positions of the words that we show you are the most common but not necessarily the only positions.

Moreover,

The library on 5th Avenue in New York City is one of the best places to do research.  Moreover, it has hundreds of the most respected magazines and journals in the world.

In addition,

The library on 5th Avenue in New York City is one of the best places to do research.  In addition, it has hundreds of the most respected magazines and journals in the world.

Furthermore,

The library on 5th Avenue in New York City is one of the best places to do research.  Furthermore, it has hundreds of the most respected magazines and journals in the world.

Also

The library on 5th Avenue in New York City is one of the best places to do research.  It also has hundreds of the most respected magazines and journals in the world.   *The word also comes before the verb.  If the verb is a form of to be, also is placed after the verb.

As well

The library on 5th Avenue in New York City is one of the best places to do research.  It has hundreds of the most respected magazines and journals in the world as well.

Too

The library on 5th Avenue in New York City is one of the best places to do research.  It has hundreds of the most respected magazines and journals in the world, too.

Additionally,

The library on 5th Avenue in New York City is one of the best places to do research.  Additionally, it has hundreds of the most respected magazines and journals in the world.

And

The library on 5th Avenue in New York City is one of the best places to do research, and it has hundreds of the most respected magazines and journals in the world.

Not only. . . but also

The library on 5th Avenue in New York City is not only one of the best places to do research but also has hundreds of the most respected magazines and journals in the world. *The subject after but also is usually omitted if but and also remain together, and the subject is the same for both clauses (parts) of the sentence.

Besides that,

The library on 5th Avenue in New York City is one of the best places to do research.  Besides that, it has hundreds of the most respected magazines and journals in the world.*That refers to what was said in the first sentence.  Though this use of the word besides is not written often, it is commonly used in speech.  Besides must be followed by an object.

CONNECTORS TO ADD IDEAS THAT CONTRAST WITH THE PREVIOUS IDEAS IN THE TEXT

However
It is used to indicate a contrast or contradiction.

Examples:
That man has much money. However, he isn’t happy at all.
She sings very well. However, she is a stutterer.
I respect my best friend’s ideas however we do not have the same thoughts.

On the other hand
It is used to say something that is different from the first thing mentioned.

Examples:
I like playing football. On the other hand, my brother likes playing basketball.
This private school is very expensive. On the other hand, education of the school is very well.
We had no money but, on the other hand, we were very happy.

Even so
It is used to indicate something that is unusual or extreme.

Examples:
This hypothesis is true, but even so, further research is required.
This dive may be dangerous for us, even so, we have to do it.
Your thoughts are very fanciful, but even so, they are worth to imagine.

Though
It is used to show that two ideas are opposing one another.

Examples:
Though it is not exactly accurate information, it is said that there are 3 workers under the dent.
Though the meal was spicy, it was really delicious.
Though he loves his teacher very much, he did not get used to his friends.

At the same time
It is used for two things which happen together.

Examples:
This is so people can watch TV and play playstation games at the same time.
Child’s story made us cry and laugh at the same time.
I study architecture at university. At the same time, I work part-time at a firm.

Instead
It means in place of something or someone else.

Examples:There is no chocolate now, I can give you some sugar instead.
Would you like to go to another place instead of cinema?
Instead of complaining, you should try to be a constructivist.

Conversely
It is used to express an idea that is different from or opposite the other idea mentioned before.

Examples:
I thought she would not come to the party; conversely, she came to the party with her boy friend.
Women want a lot of things from their husbands. Conversely, men don’t want many things from their wifes.
His family made a lot of effort to make their son’s lessons better, conversely, he never made any effort.

In contrast
It is used to compare two things or people and to say that the second one is very different from the first one.

Examples:This child is short and fat. In contrast, her sister is tall and thin.
Some people are extroverts. In contrast, some people are introverts.
In contrast to his big brother, he speaks English very well.

Yet
It is used to add something that is surprising after the first sentence which are mentioned before.

Examples:
It’s a long-term business, yet it’s more fun than other jobs.
The weather was snowy, yet it was not cold.
That woman was short and overweight, yet somehow, she was attractive.

Whereas
It is used for comparing two things which have significant differences from each other .

Examples:
Chicken meat is white, whereas cow meat is red.
You can do what you want outdoors, whereas it’s impossible to do them at home.
Her hair has a natural wave, whereas her sister’s hair just straight.

Even though
It is used as a stronger way to say “though” or “although”.

Examples:
He always gets the highest grade from the courses, even though he does not work regularly.
Even though I met all the criteria needed for the job, I was not hired.
My father will go to the work, even though he has two painful operations.

Nevertheles
It is used to say something which contrasts with what has just been said.

Examples:
The place was so beautiful; nevertheless, we did not want to spend our holiday in here.
They lost the game; nevertheless, they continued to play.
It is a very crowded city. Nevertheless, thousands of migrants come to the city each year.

On the contrary
It is used to show that a thought or feel which is the opposite of what has just stated.

Examples:

• A: “Have you written the letter?”
• B: On the contrary, I have not even started writing.

I’m not sad; on the contrary, I’m very happy.
This election will not bring prosperity to the country. On the contrary, chaos will increase.

Notwithstanding
It means despite the thing mentioned.

Examples:
He continues to exhibit the same behaviors, our warnings notwithstanding.
These drugs seem to be different, notwithstanding having same contents.
Notwithstandig two players getting red card, the team won the game.

Otherwise
It is used to show what the result will be if the thing or condition, mentioned before, does not occur.

Examples:
I had better study for my exams. Otherwise, I won’t pass the courses.
Leave my house now, otherwise I will call the police.
Tke your umbrella, otherwise you will get wet.

Alternatively
It is used to propose another possibility.

Examples:
You can play football. Alternatively, you can go to the cinema with me.
They can call us to contact, or  alternatively, they can send an email to us.
I think we can go far away for vacation, or alternatively, we can go where we went last year.

Nonetheless
It is used to link two contradictory thoughts.

Examples:
He worked with very little salary but he was happy with his job nonetheless.
She did not like teaching, but she became a teacher nonetheless.
The food was unsalted,but it was nonetheless delicious.

By contrast
It is used for the act of comparing in order to show differences.

Examples:
David is unaware of what is around. By contrast, Lisa is very cautious.
Children like crowds. By contrast, elders prefer solitude.
My daughter is very active. By contrast, my son is so moody.

But
It is used to add statement which is different from what you have said before.

Examples:
I know the answer to the problem, but I do not know why it is.
He is a very handsome but he is very rude person.
They heard us but they did not understand what we said.

While
It means “during the time” or “throughout the time”.

Examples:
While Jakson was in London, he went to see Jully.
While you were pregnant, my little girl was one year old.
While you were talking on the phone, the door was knocked.

Although
It is used for introducing a new statement that makes main statement surprising.

Examples:
Although no body is at home, some sounds are coming from the house.
Although she loves her job, she decided to quit her job.
Although he works hard, he is not successful in the course.

Despite / In spite of
It is used to show something which happen without being affected by something else.

Examples:
I can manage to stay cheerful despite everything.
In spite of warnings, he did not take any precautions.
That man is very stingy, despite having a lot of money.

Now practise the use of connectors (there are 14 exercises, with answers): CLICK HERE

Let's revise some vocabulary related to education HERE

2) SPEAKING PRACTICE: EDUCATION

a) You'll watch a short video (7 min) in which you'll see how a set of 6 questions regarding education could be answered. Remember that in your final exam you'll be asked to answer some questions too, so this is going to help you a lot. Watch, listen and read!

b) Now prepare your own answers for the 6 questions. Remember to use connectors to link your ideas.

3) WRITING (HOMEWORK)

Write a description of the primary school you went to. Include the following information: (180 words). Use connectors!

Hand it in before November 22nd, please.

-a brief introduction: the kind of school, size, location, your age when you went there,
-number of pupils in each class
-homework, uniform, discipline, teachers
-subjects – best / worst
-your general opinion of the school – good / bad? Why?