APLE 1 WEEKEND HOMEWORK: STUDYING ABROAD

About 5000 Spanish teenagers travel to Britain to study English every summer. Others decide to spend a school year abroad attending High School lessons in an English-speaking country. A few are lucky to study their university degree abroad with the hope of better educational and work opportunities in the future. 

In the track below, an expert offers advice to ESL/EFL (English as a Second Language / English as a Foreign Language) students at UK universities. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below. Send me your answers through VoiceMai. Make complete answers and give as many details as possible.  

1.- What has he just finished doing? What kind of course did he take?

2.- Why was it a challenge for most of the students in the course to study in the UK? 

3.- Why does he say "people weren't very forthcoming"?

4.- What were the students good at and not so good at?

5.- What does "critical thinking" involve?


Watch the following video about well-known universities in USA and answer the questions on the right.
When you finish, send me your results. Remember to write down your name and surname and my teacher code.

Deadline: Monday 5th November

APLE 1 WEEKEND HOMEWORK: LIFE CHOICES

I forgot to tell you about your homework for the weekend, so I just hope some of you drop by and see this post. Anyway, the deadline will be Thursday 25th, so everyone will have plenty of time.

As you know, we've just started a new unit in our book which deals with life choices and I've come accross a New York Times Interactive where senior students from a high school in San Diego were asked about their plans for their future, their 10-year plans. 

You must hear their answers, choose two students and send me a Voice Mail with all the information you've understood. Try to avoid the usual mistakes. Do not read. Try to sound as natural as possible and do not rush.

Don't forget YOUR NAME, SURNAME AND MAIL ACCOUNT.

STORYTELLING

Halloween is getting nearer and it's time for scary stories. 
It can be a lot of fun to read a great scary short story. You are going to prepare and read your stories aloud.

You need a lot of practice beforehand. I'll be assessing your pronunciation, intonation, rhythm... Basically, how good you are at storytelling!
Try to make your story captivating and interact with your audience. Be expressive. No one likes to listen to someone read in a monotone and expressionless voice; it does not hold their attention.

 You must choose one of the stories in one of the following sites: 

•  site 1
•  site 2
•  two more stories  

Choose a creepy short story that will make your hair stand on end!!!

I'll record your readings and make a podcast with all of them. 
Reading Dates: 30th & 31st October

A BIT OF MUSIC

Lyrics Training is an easy and fun method to learn and improve your foreign languages skills like English through the music and lyrics of the songs.

Once you've chosen a song and a mode, the video will stop after each verse so that you can write the missing words. 
You can always listen to the line again by pressing backspace key.
If you don't understand a word, press tab key to jump to the next.
Click on HELP and read the instructions.



As you know, I got hoarse (I've lost my voice) and I think this song reflects how I feel and what I feel like doing. Try the Intermediate Game Mode. 
When you finish, try this other song .

Now you're free to explore the page and enjoy the songs you like. 

WORLD TEACHERS' DAY

You may not have known but I want to make sure you know now that every October 5th Teachers' Day has been celebrated since Unesco created the celebration in 1994.









Watch the video below that pays tribute to teachers



Listen to the track by ESL Holiday Lessons and try to fill in the blanks below:

The follwoing two videos reflect on the history of education in America since 1600. Half of you will be watching the first video while the other half will watch the second one. Take notes so that you can tell the other half what you have learnt from the video.
The Evolution of Educators Part 1





The Evolution of Educators Part 2

 

Classrooms around the world
 

THE BEST OF YOU IN JUST ONE MINUTE

Next Tuesday, each one of you will have one minute to depict the best image of you.


The expressions and vocabulary used in your oral exposition together with pronunciation and intonation will determine your grades.
You may use one minute visual presentations to support your speech.


Play the track below and in the second dialogue you can listen to a girl introducing herself using a wide range of vocabulary and expressions.




 

Some of you may have watched a popular musical TV show called The Voice. Contestants try to show the best of them in just one minute and a half song to get chosen by one of the coaches. They also make a short introduction of themselves at the beginning. Watch the American version below:

 

Ok, you can listen to Nathalie singing and the coaches' response.
 

Prepare your one minute presentation with the help of Emir and the expressions studied in your book

VERB PATTERNS

Unfortunately in English there are some things that you just have to learn. Verb patterns are one of them. Some verbs are followed by the gerund (-ing form). Some verbs are followed by the infinitive (to + verb).
Verb patterns are always difficult to master by English learners.
As everything else, it just needs practice.

Verbpatternsinenglish 

Check the list here

Practice 1
Practice 2
Practice 3 
Practice 4

NEW ENGLISH ASSISTANT!!!!!

Surprise!!! It was all out of a sudden, but eventually we are going to have our English assistant this year too!!! And he will be helping you, APLE 1, with your English speaking skills.

Now you know something about him and I would like you to tell me what you've learnt from his talk in the VoiceThread below. Please listen to my VoiceThread and do as I tell you.
For those who haven't used VoiceThread before, please follow the instructions below:

     DEADLINE: SUNDAY 7TH OCTOBER





Instructions for using VoiceThread:

When you click on "Comment" you will be asked to sign in. Once you have signed in, you will be able to make your contribution. To comment click on the "comment" link. There you will have the choice of either recording your voice (microphone icon), typing your words (letter "A" icon), or using a web camera (camera icon). This time you will be using the mic. If you are happy with your recording, be sure to save. If not, hit cancel and you may re-record as many times as you wish. Please no inappropriate commenting.


 
FEEDBACK ON YOUR VOICETHREAD