Today we are going to use the exercise of doing role plays.
Start off 2 x 2 with some simple role plays from the internet
1.Celebrity interview
2.Assorted role plays
3. Applying for a job as chef
Now we move on to role plays using 3 people.
The main theme is conflict.
1. Here is one from the internet.
It is for three roles. 2 parents and a teenager.
The other four are role plays Mike has written.
They are all for 3 people and all based on the theme of conflict.
He will give you them on paper!!
Finally I want you to round off the lesson with a work sheet on the theme of conflict.
Here it is.
Fill it in and mail it to me!
Your homework as usual is to read your classic work. 7 weeks left!
Monday, 29 September 2014
Friday, 26 September 2014
On our way to Africa!
At the moment the students from SA12 should be on their way to Uganda. We wish them well for their field trip.
Meanwhile back in the Batcave.......
Today we are going to concentrate on the skill of listening.
The first texts are all related to the text book.
You can follow them and answer the relevant questions.
Some general questions:
What accent does the speaker have?
What specific words in the text show some kind of regional bias?
The first text is from page 104 in the book "My lovely daughter is a rolling stone" .
Please do the exercises on page 105 after listening
The second text is a story divided into three parts about Ronnie and the Winnebago.
You will find the specific questions on 64-65
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
After listening to the three parts of the story please do the speaking exercise on page 65.
The third listening exercise is based on an interview entitled
"Bigfoot is Dead". The questions and exercises are on page 86 in the book
The final listening exercise related to the book is "The last enemy" on page 37. It is a cloze test (gap-fill). Listen and fill in the answers.
Please mail your answers to me for this exercise.
When you have done these 3 listening exercises I would like you to use the following resource.
The English 7 course lies between B2 and C1.
So try out resources on the C1 level using the following link.
Good luck!
We have some nice new headsets to use.
Don't nick them!
Meanwhile back in the Batcave.......
Today we are going to concentrate on the skill of listening.
The first texts are all related to the text book.
You can follow them and answer the relevant questions.
Some general questions:
What accent does the speaker have?
What specific words in the text show some kind of regional bias?
The first text is from page 104 in the book "My lovely daughter is a rolling stone" .
Please do the exercises on page 105 after listening
The second text is a story divided into three parts about Ronnie and the Winnebago.
You will find the specific questions on 64-65
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
After listening to the three parts of the story please do the speaking exercise on page 65.
The third listening exercise is based on an interview entitled
"Bigfoot is Dead". The questions and exercises are on page 86 in the book
The final listening exercise related to the book is "The last enemy" on page 37. It is a cloze test (gap-fill). Listen and fill in the answers.
Please mail your answers to me for this exercise.
When you have done these 3 listening exercises I would like you to use the following resource.
The English 7 course lies between B2 and C1.
So try out resources on the C1 level using the following link.
Good luck!
We have some nice new headsets to use.
Don't nick them!
Friday, 19 September 2014
Uganda and heroes
It looks at the time of writing that Scotland will remain a part of the UK. Check up on www.bbc.co.uk for life coverage of the result.
Today we will divide the class.
First of all make sure you have borrowed a classic book by today and write up the title and author on the list on the teacher's desk.
The classic novels (works) are mainly in the first glass cupboard as you go towards the Lingotek.
The task for your reading is on last Monday's blog.
Students from SA12 -we will work in the Green Room making sure all your questionnaires and interview questions for your field studies in Uganda are correct and comprehensible.
The rest of the class will work on the theme of Heroes and Heroines...
There are three texts about this topic in our text book
Dust of Life (p.39)
Heroes in the rubble (p.45)
The Feather Men (p.56)
Here are some personal comments having read two of them:-
Dust of life
Pre-Reading Activity
Liz Thomas was only a year older than most of you are when she left everything that was familiar and secure to work with war victims in Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War (around 1973).
Discuss what can make a person do as she did. In what circumstances would you do the same?
Comment
This text is a huge challenge to our lifestyle based on comfort and self-indulgence. It really asks the question as to what is truly important in life. We need heroes and heroines (not heroin!) to shake us up and wake us up!
Alternative title
Leaving it all behind
The heroes in the rubble
Pre-Reading Activity
It's now 13 years this September since the events of 11th September took place. I remember walking past a classroom in school and seeing a student stare at the TV screen. I thought it was a movie. The whole thing was surreal. I remember watching the rescue service personnel running and trying to save the victims.
Comment
I thought immediately about Shakespeare's quote from "Twelfth Night"
Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them
If Liz in "Dust of Life" achieves "greatness" then the rescue workers of this text "have greatness thrust upon them".
The article is written like a TV script offering cameo pictures of the aftermath of the 9/11 attack. The aim is to highlight the bravery of the rescue workers and, in my view, it succeeds.
Alternative title
Above and beyond the call of duty
Now do the same with "The Feather Men"
Before you read the text,a comment after and an alternative title for the text
Mail your answers to me!
Now work in small groups.
I want you to discuss "What makes a hero/heroine?"
Make a list of criteria for being able to call someone a hero.
Decide on ONE well-known person who you can agree on in the group who can be called a hero/heroine.
Every year in Sweden there is a gala for "Everyday heroes"
Why are heroes important for us? Write a reflection.
A lot of people would consider someone like Kristian Gidlund a hero. Would you agree in your group?
Finally there are national heroes:-
Gustav Wasa- Sweden
William Wallace- Scotland
Robin Hood- England (or maybe Winston Churchill)
Nelson Mandela (South Africa)
Charlemagne (France)
In Jamaica on 20th October every year they have a "National Heroes' Day".
Try to find out something about some of these people..
Why were they heroes?
Send in all your material on a joint document clearly marked with your names
Today we will divide the class.
First of all make sure you have borrowed a classic book by today and write up the title and author on the list on the teacher's desk.
The classic novels (works) are mainly in the first glass cupboard as you go towards the Lingotek.
The task for your reading is on last Monday's blog.
Students from SA12 -we will work in the Green Room making sure all your questionnaires and interview questions for your field studies in Uganda are correct and comprehensible.
The rest of the class will work on the theme of Heroes and Heroines...
There are three texts about this topic in our text book
Dust of Life (p.39)
Heroes in the rubble (p.45)
The Feather Men (p.56)
Here are some personal comments having read two of them:-
Dust of life
Pre-Reading Activity
Liz Thomas was only a year older than most of you are when she left everything that was familiar and secure to work with war victims in Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War (around 1973).
Discuss what can make a person do as she did. In what circumstances would you do the same?
Comment
This text is a huge challenge to our lifestyle based on comfort and self-indulgence. It really asks the question as to what is truly important in life. We need heroes and heroines (not heroin!) to shake us up and wake us up!
Alternative title
Leaving it all behind
The heroes in the rubble
Pre-Reading Activity
It's now 13 years this September since the events of 11th September took place. I remember walking past a classroom in school and seeing a student stare at the TV screen. I thought it was a movie. The whole thing was surreal. I remember watching the rescue service personnel running and trying to save the victims.
Comment
I thought immediately about Shakespeare's quote from "Twelfth Night"
Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them
If Liz in "Dust of Life" achieves "greatness" then the rescue workers of this text "have greatness thrust upon them".
The article is written like a TV script offering cameo pictures of the aftermath of the 9/11 attack. The aim is to highlight the bravery of the rescue workers and, in my view, it succeeds.
Alternative title
Above and beyond the call of duty
Now do the same with "The Feather Men"
Before you read the text,a comment after and an alternative title for the text
Mail your answers to me!
Now work in small groups.
I want you to discuss "What makes a hero/heroine?"
Make a list of criteria for being able to call someone a hero.
Decide on ONE well-known person who you can agree on in the group who can be called a hero/heroine.
Every year in Sweden there is a gala for "Everyday heroes"
Why are heroes important for us? Write a reflection.
A lot of people would consider someone like Kristian Gidlund a hero. Would you agree in your group?
Finally there are national heroes:-
Gustav Wasa- Sweden
William Wallace- Scotland
Robin Hood- England (or maybe Winston Churchill)
Nelson Mandela (South Africa)
Charlemagne (France)
In Jamaica on 20th October every year they have a "National Heroes' Day".
Try to find out something about some of these people..
Why were they heroes?
Send in all your material on a joint document clearly marked with your names
Monday, 15 September 2014
A new day- a new age
Although the election is now over the focus on politics is definitely not.
It will not be easy to form a new government in the present situation, so let's hope that it will be sorted asap.
Back to our course...
Three groups have put out their link to a document:
UK, Australia and New Zealand. Thank you for the good work.
What about the US, Ireland and Jamaica ?
You mean they don't have school systems?
To all involved:-
Make sure the document is up and running by 9.40 today
Back to today's lesson...
Today we will be beginning the first of three literary works which are part of the course.
We start with a "classic".
The definition of what constitutes a "classic" has always been open to interpretation and discussion. I want you to add your fuel to this discussion.
Here is the document I would like you to download as a basis for your assignment.
If you cannot find anything of interest on our shelves then here is a list of possible authors.
Finally to give some perspective of what was going on in the UK during the nineteenth century (1800's) I have included a time-line of important events.
Your homework for this week is to start reading your "classic". The deadline for completion is week 47 when you will give your classic talk( some will give their talk in week 49) .
E-mail me by Friday WITHOUT FAIL the title of your work and the name of the author.
PLEASE USE THE REST OF TODAY'S
LESSON TO CHOOSE AND BEGIN TO
READ YOUR CLASSIC NOVEL/PLAY
It will not be easy to form a new government in the present situation, so let's hope that it will be sorted asap.
Back to our course...
Three groups have put out their link to a document:
UK, Australia and New Zealand. Thank you for the good work.
What about the US, Ireland and Jamaica ?
You mean they don't have school systems?
To all involved:-
Make sure the document is up and running by 9.40 today
Back to today's lesson...
Today we will be beginning the first of three literary works which are part of the course.
We start with a "classic".
The definition of what constitutes a "classic" has always been open to interpretation and discussion. I want you to add your fuel to this discussion.
Here is the document I would like you to download as a basis for your assignment.
If you cannot find anything of interest on our shelves then here is a list of possible authors.
Finally to give some perspective of what was going on in the UK during the nineteenth century (1800's) I have included a time-line of important events.
Your homework for this week is to start reading your "classic". The deadline for completion is week 47 when you will give your classic talk( some will give their talk in week 49) .
E-mail me by Friday WITHOUT FAIL the title of your work and the name of the author.
PLEASE USE THE REST OF TODAY'S
LESSON TO CHOOSE AND BEGIN TO
READ YOUR CLASSIC NOVEL/PLAY
Friday, 12 September 2014
TED Talk/ Program presentation/ School System
Today you will start off by dividing into groups of four.
I want you to present your TED Talk to the other people in the group.
Let them see about a minute of the Talk so that they get some idea of the subject matter.
Then explain to them what the talk is all aboout and how it relates to your area of study.
While this is going on I will be asking students to come out and tell me about their study area.
I will want to know the following:
I want you to present your TED Talk to the other people in the group.
Let them see about a minute of the Talk so that they get some idea of the subject matter.
Then explain to them what the talk is all aboout and how it relates to your area of study.
While this is going on I will be asking students to come out and tell me about their study area.
I will want to know the following:
- What is your study area called in English?
- What are the main characteristics of these studies?
- What are the areas of specialisation?
- Why did you choose this area of study?
After this we will take a short break. Then in the same groups of four I want you to find out something about the school system in some English speaking countries.
Group 1 UK
Group 2 USA
Group 3 Ireland
Group 4 Australia
Group 5 New Zealand
Group 6 Jamaica
Group 7 Bahamas
(Group 8 Singapore)
You should say something about Pre-school, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education. How would your schooling have been like in that country?
Share your material on a google doc and put the link as a comment on the blog.
I will be leaving for a meeting shortly after nine.
Have a great week-end!
Monday, 8 September 2014
Ice-breaker/ Follow-up for Friday/Study area and TED TALK
Hi and welcome back after a week-end in Leksand dominated by culture, sport and politics!
We start off today with our ice-breaker...
Go round and ask "Yes /no" questions to people in the class.
When you get a "yes" write down the name of the person.
We will do this for some 20 minutes and then go through it together.
After this I want you to finish off where we left off on Friday
Stereotypes and Expectations
What stereotypes of Australia are in the text? How would a "typical" picture of Australia be ?
Bill Sprockett lives a lie instead of living a life.
he has a lot of expectations after receiving money from his father.
What expectations are placed on you?
Write a reflection!!
Now the assignments!
1. Your area of studies. Click on the following link to see the
areas of study available for the Swedish high school.
Click on your study area and using the translation into English
make a wordlist of key words for your study area with translation.
Be prepared to tell Mike orally about your studies next Friday.
We start off today with our ice-breaker...
Go round and ask "Yes /no" questions to people in the class.
When you get a "yes" write down the name of the person.
We will do this for some 20 minutes and then go through it together.
After this I want you to finish off where we left off on Friday
Stereotypes and Expectations
What stereotypes of Australia are in the text? How would a "typical" picture of Australia be ?
Bill Sprockett lives a lie instead of living a life.
he has a lot of expectations after receiving money from his father.
What expectations are placed on you?
Write a reflection!!
Now the assignments!
1. Your area of studies. Click on the following link to see the
areas of study available for the Swedish high school.
Click on your study area and using the translation into English
make a wordlist of key words for your study area with translation.
Be prepared to tell Mike orally about your studies next Friday.
By using the link to the Topic page choose a TED Talk related to
your area of study. I want you to write a brief summary of you talk
and in small groups on Friday be prepared to present some
information about it. You will show the first couple of minutes of
the talk to a small group of students. Make sure you have a
computer with you.
your area of study. I want you to write a brief summary of you talk
and in small groups on Friday be prepared to present some
information about it. You will show the first couple of minutes of
the talk to a small group of students. Make sure you have a
computer with you.
Friday, 5 September 2014
Where are all the letters gone
Thank you for all your suggestions. I have included as many as
possible in the planner which you can check out the present version on the blog.
We are too many to do the planner together but all comments and
suggestions to improve the course are welcome.
I want to get your letters now. Only a few people sent them to me
digitally.
The deadline was today! If I don't have them sent by Sunday evening 6 p.m. then maybe you have chosen the wrong course!!!!
To give you some info about next week.
On Monday we will start off with an ice-breaker.
After that you will work with the materials below.
1. Your area of studies. Click on the following link to see the
areas of study available for the Swedish high school.
Click on your study area and using the translation into English
make a wordlist of key words for your study area with translation.
Be prepared to tell Mike orally about your studies next Friday.
possible in the planner which you can check out the present version on the blog.
We are too many to do the planner together but all comments and
suggestions to improve the course are welcome.
I want to get your letters now. Only a few people sent them to me
digitally.
The deadline was today! If I don't have them sent by Sunday evening 6 p.m. then maybe you have chosen the wrong course!!!!
To give you some info about next week.
On Monday we will start off with an ice-breaker.
After that you will work with the materials below.
1. Your area of studies. Click on the following link to see the
areas of study available for the Swedish high school.
Click on your study area and using the translation into English
make a wordlist of key words for your study area with translation.
Be prepared to tell Mike orally about your studies next Friday.
By using the link to the Topic page choose a TED Talk related to
your area of study. I want you to write a brief summary of you talk
and in small groups on Friday be prepared to present some
information about it. You will show the first couple of minutes of
the talk to a small group of students. Make sure you have a
computer with you.
Now let's get back to today.
We will be having a traditional kind of class with a:
a)listening exercise
b)reading exercise
c)speaking/ discussion
d) writing a short narrative
a) We will start off by listening to Arthur Cain dscribing the world
he grew up in. The sound file is available here for the first part.As
we listen please answer the questions either on paper or on your
computer.
The second part is here
Arthur is from Scotland and speaks with a characteristic Scottish accent.
b)A completely different accent would be the one used by Bill
Sprockett. You can listen to a little section here. But this is a
reading task and not just listening.
c) The speaking task is divided into two parts. First of all with your
neighbour discuss this story. How would you describe Bill
Sprockett's lifestyle?
Secondly do the speaking exercise on page 14/15 in groups of 4
d) Stereotypes and expectations
What stereotypes of Australia are in this text? What is "typical"
Australian?
Compare with Sweden... What is typically Swedish?
Finally a reflection about "Expectations".
What expectations are placed on you? Studies? Sports? Life choices?
your area of study. I want you to write a brief summary of you talk
and in small groups on Friday be prepared to present some
information about it. You will show the first couple of minutes of
the talk to a small group of students. Make sure you have a
computer with you.
Now let's get back to today.
We will be having a traditional kind of class with a:
a)listening exercise
b)reading exercise
c)speaking/ discussion
d) writing a short narrative
a) We will start off by listening to Arthur Cain dscribing the world
he grew up in. The sound file is available here for the first part.As
we listen please answer the questions either on paper or on your
computer.
The second part is here
Arthur is from Scotland and speaks with a characteristic Scottish accent.
b)A completely different accent would be the one used by Bill
Sprockett. You can listen to a little section here. But this is a
reading task and not just listening.
c) The speaking task is divided into two parts. First of all with your
neighbour discuss this story. How would you describe Bill
Sprockett's lifestyle?
Secondly do the speaking exercise on page 14/15 in groups of 4
d) Stereotypes and expectations
What stereotypes of Australia are in this text? What is "typical"
Australian?
Compare with Sweden... What is typically Swedish?
Finally a reflection about "Expectations".
What expectations are placed on you? Studies? Sports? Life choices?
Monday, 1 September 2014
Boot Camp
Welcome to English 7. I hope that this course will provide an intellectual challenge to each of you this year. After some comments that there was not sufficient time to get things done we will change the structure a little bit.
The Monday lessons will begin at 8 and go to about 8.50. Thereafter you will have 50 minutes to work on the assignment of the day.
The Friday's lesson will be the full 100 minutes (from 8 a.m. to 9.40 a.m.)
However, today we will use the time at our disposal. The lesson will consist of some administration and a couple of tasks.
Having distributed the books (English C ) we will endeavour to look at the curriculum for the course.
Here it is in digital form.
I have also included a letter to you both in paper and digital format. I want a reply to this by Friday AT THE LATEST. Here is the letter
What we need to do today is analyse the curriculum and grade guidelines and plan areas which must be examined and tested in order to fulfill these requirements.
By Friday I shall put your observations into some kind of planner for the autumn term.
Since the language used in the document is complex I have included a copy in Swedish of the original document. It is here on the right-hand side of the blog.
It is important to see this course as a melting-pot where we will be able to contribute ideas and give input.
Some things are compulsory- word lists, writing workshop, presentation of "gymnasiearbete" literature etc.. Others need to be planned and formulated.
Welcome to what, hopefully, will prove to be a stimulating and challenging experience.
The Monday lessons will begin at 8 and go to about 8.50. Thereafter you will have 50 minutes to work on the assignment of the day.
The Friday's lesson will be the full 100 minutes (from 8 a.m. to 9.40 a.m.)
However, today we will use the time at our disposal. The lesson will consist of some administration and a couple of tasks.
Having distributed the books (English C ) we will endeavour to look at the curriculum for the course.
Here it is in digital form.
I have also included a letter to you both in paper and digital format. I want a reply to this by Friday AT THE LATEST. Here is the letter
What we need to do today is analyse the curriculum and grade guidelines and plan areas which must be examined and tested in order to fulfill these requirements.
By Friday I shall put your observations into some kind of planner for the autumn term.
Since the language used in the document is complex I have included a copy in Swedish of the original document. It is here on the right-hand side of the blog.
It is important to see this course as a melting-pot where we will be able to contribute ideas and give input.
Some things are compulsory- word lists, writing workshop, presentation of "gymnasiearbete" literature etc.. Others need to be planned and formulated.
Welcome to what, hopefully, will prove to be a stimulating and challenging experience.
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