No official lesson today as most people are attending the Big Mess!
Book talks next week. Don't forget to sign up!
Friday, 28 November 2014
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Remember no lesson this Friday. Here is the blog content for Monday
Ok people. So no class this Friday.
Monday's lesson I will still be away but at least you have some work to do!
(You can do it from home as long as it gets done!!)
This time it is a translation.
First some general info:-
Today we have reached the end of our writing course.
To recapitulate
We have talked about the general characteristics of writing:
Then we have tried our hand at formal and informal English.
Today we finish off with the skill of translation.
I will start off by distributing and going through a handout with you.
Here it is.
Translation involves transferring the meaning from one language to another as faithfully and accurately as possible.
It is not the same as paraphrasing or summarising in another language.
It is a very useful skill.
If we look just at Leksand and its municipality we can see many areas where translation is needed.
So the uses are endless.
Nowadays it is possible to use eletronic tools to assist in translation.
If you use google translate "It's raining cats and dogs" it no longer says:
"Det regnar hundar och katter" but if you put in
"How are you going to worm your way out of this?" the result is just as bizarre!
Try "He turned up like the bad penny!" and see what you get!
The problem of producing a good translationis not only to be accurate but also to get the right "feel" conveyed by the original text.
Here is your translation task. Easy? Probably not!
This is one of the harder things to do well!
The handout takes you through the most important things
1. Accuracy- That does not mean "word for word"
otherwise you get
"Have it so good" (ha det så bra) and
"Shoot yourself" (sköt dig (själv))
2. Terminology
The translation is about skiing. What words (terms) specific to that area will you need?
3. Language and style
The original is somewhat informal. Your version needs to be the same"
4. Country standards
What do you do with the miles in the text?
5. Text formatting
We are more careful in English about paragraphing than in Swedish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck!!
FINALLY
Now let's turn to next week.
We have the classic book talks.
15 people will do their talks with me on Friday week 49 and15 on next Friday (week 50).
Please fill in the sheet which is here
Monday's lesson I will still be away but at least you have some work to do!
(You can do it from home as long as it gets done!!)
This time it is a translation.
First some general info:-
Today we have reached the end of our writing course.
To recapitulate
We have talked about the general characteristics of writing:
- How it stands "outside" time
- How it requires a structure
- How it is governed by many rules and constraints such as:
- Grammar
- Spelling
- Syntax
- Register
- Paragraphing
Then we have tried our hand at formal and informal English.
Today we finish off with the skill of translation.
I will start off by distributing and going through a handout with you.
Here it is.
Translation involves transferring the meaning from one language to another as faithfully and accurately as possible.
It is not the same as paraphrasing or summarising in another language.
It is a very useful skill.
If we look just at Leksand and its municipality we can see many areas where translation is needed.
- Business (international companies)
- Twinning arrangements (Uganda-Leksand)
- Tourism
- Music/Song
So the uses are endless.
Nowadays it is possible to use eletronic tools to assist in translation.
If you use google translate "It's raining cats and dogs" it no longer says:
"Det regnar hundar och katter" but if you put in
"How are you going to worm your way out of this?" the result is just as bizarre!
Try "He turned up like the bad penny!" and see what you get!
The problem of producing a good translationis not only to be accurate but also to get the right "feel" conveyed by the original text.
Here is your translation task. Easy? Probably not!
This is one of the harder things to do well!
The handout takes you through the most important things
1. Accuracy- That does not mean "word for word"
otherwise you get
"Have it so good" (ha det så bra) and
"Shoot yourself" (sköt dig (själv))
2. Terminology
The translation is about skiing. What words (terms) specific to that area will you need?
3. Language and style
The original is somewhat informal. Your version needs to be the same"
4. Country standards
What do you do with the miles in the text?
5. Text formatting
We are more careful in English about paragraphing than in Swedish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck!!
FINALLY
Now let's turn to next week.
We have the classic book talks.
15 people will do their talks with me on Friday week 49 and15 on next Friday (week 50).
Please fill in the sheet which is here
- Your name
- Author's name
- Title of book
- Week 49 / 50
Monday, 17 November 2014
Informal writing today- Translation next Monday (on your own)
A quick word about the timetable.
Today you will be writing some informal English (see below)
Those who needed 10 minutes to complete the CAE Reading do it straight away!
If you missed it last Friday you will do the exercise on Friday week 49
This Friday's class is cancelled.
Next Monday is the translation (on your own on the blog)
Friday week 48- SACO exhibition. Class for those who are around (if you want to talk about your classic book that's great)
Next regular lesson Monday week 49
And today...
Today we are going to deal with the easiest part of our writing course- informal writing.
Some of the characteristics of informal writing are given in the "English C"text book on pages 95-98.
It is very important to remember that the same rules and constraints such as paragraphing, structure, spelling and correct grammar apply just as much in informal writing as in more formal forms.
Here are 3 assignments. Please choose one of them and write it NOW.
1. A letter or email to a pen-friend from another country who will be coming to spend the Christmas with you here in Dalecarlia.
You need to give the person some information about what they can expect, what to bring along and some general information about the celebration of Christmas in Sweden.
2. A diary entry for the week-end which has passed where you not only talk about events but also your feelings and expectations for the rest of 2014.
3. You write a lifestyle blog in English about being young in Sweden. Write a blog entry about Swedish youth culture and their attitudes to alcohol and partying.
Use the whole time you have in the lesson to complete the assigment.
It should be in my digital mailbox on Friday morning by 8 a.m.
Next Monday we will deal with the final part of our writing course- translation.
(materials on the blog)
Today you will be writing some informal English (see below)
Those who needed 10 minutes to complete the CAE Reading do it straight away!
If you missed it last Friday you will do the exercise on Friday week 49
This Friday's class is cancelled.
Next Monday is the translation (on your own on the blog)
Friday week 48- SACO exhibition. Class for those who are around (if you want to talk about your classic book that's great)
Next regular lesson Monday week 49
And today...
Today we are going to deal with the easiest part of our writing course- informal writing.
Some of the characteristics of informal writing are given in the "English C"text book on pages 95-98.
It is very important to remember that the same rules and constraints such as paragraphing, structure, spelling and correct grammar apply just as much in informal writing as in more formal forms.
Here are 3 assignments. Please choose one of them and write it NOW.
1. A letter or email to a pen-friend from another country who will be coming to spend the Christmas with you here in Dalecarlia.
You need to give the person some information about what they can expect, what to bring along and some general information about the celebration of Christmas in Sweden.
2. A diary entry for the week-end which has passed where you not only talk about events but also your feelings and expectations for the rest of 2014.
3. You write a lifestyle blog in English about being young in Sweden. Write a blog entry about Swedish youth culture and their attitudes to alcohol and partying.
Use the whole time you have in the lesson to complete the assigment.
It should be in my digital mailbox on Friday morning by 8 a.m.
Next Monday we will deal with the final part of our writing course- translation.
(materials on the blog)
Friday, 14 November 2014
Change of plan for next Friday
Next Friday's lesson is cancelled. This will mean postponing the classic book talk to week 49/50.
Please view the updated course planner!
Today we start off by giving an opportunity for the groups for the UK and the Bahamas to do their presentations.
Then it will be a reading test from CAE just to give you an idea of the level required.
Monday's class (week 47) will be a short lesson and then a piece of informal/neutral writing.
Next Friday's lesson is cancelled.
Week 48 Monday's lesson will be on the blog (I am still away).
It will be a translation.
Week 48 Friday's lesson- Many of you will be attending the SACO exhibition. However, I will be here for those who are remaining.
We have plenty to work on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a good weekend!
Please view the updated course planner!
Today we start off by giving an opportunity for the groups for the UK and the Bahamas to do their presentations.
Then it will be a reading test from CAE just to give you an idea of the level required.
Monday's class (week 47) will be a short lesson and then a piece of informal/neutral writing.
Next Friday's lesson is cancelled.
Week 48 Monday's lesson will be on the blog (I am still away).
It will be a translation.
Week 48 Friday's lesson- Many of you will be attending the SACO exhibition. However, I will be here for those who are remaining.
We have plenty to work on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a good weekend!
Monday, 10 November 2014
Can someone explain the difference between a formal and informal register?
Thanks for all your 5 paragraph essays.
I am hoping to get the marked versions back to you by this evening,
Fór those of you who are using word/open office I will try to make the correcting a bit easier by using some colour coding:
swenglish= purple
X = surplus to requirements!
I hope that will help. For those using google docs I will use the comment button. Don't forget when you share your document to give me the editing option (får redigera)!
As a follow-up to your 5 paragraph essay there is an excellent section on
All of these strategies can help you become a more confident writer.
However, there is one key question which must always be addressed when writing- the question of "register"
On the "Yahoo answers" website the question was asked which is the title of today's blog.
With regard to writing it is the most important question of all.
Here is how one of the people who answered the question expressed himself:
This is reflected in the curriculum and grade guidelines for our course where it talks about:
Bearbetning av språk och struktur i egna och andras framställningar, i formella och komplexa sammanhang, och för att skapa anpassning till genre, stilnivå och syfte
and for the "E" grade it says:
I muntlig och skriftlig interaktion i olika, även formella och komplexa, sammanhang kan eleven uttrycka sig tydligt, relativt ledigt och med flyt samt med anpassning till syfte, mottagare och situation.
There is a clear distinction made between "formal" English and other registers.
I want you to start off today by discussing Section A on page 95 in the "English C" book.
What conclusions did you reach in the group?
Look at the picture of the gardens- Formal or informal?
Now look together at Section B on page 95-96.
What characterises "Formal" and "Informal" writing?
Today we are going to concentrate on formal English..
In what circumstances do we use it and why?
The first hand-out today is about the use of formal English in science...
The guidelines which are presented are relevant even for non-scientific writing.
The same hand-out contains a definition of formal English and some of the areas of usage.
It also gives a comparison of levels of spoken and written English.
Your task today is to do a piece of formal writing.
You can choose Task D on page 98 in "English C" or one of the following:-
Now you may begin writing!
I am hoping to get the marked versions back to you by this evening,
Fór those of you who are using word/open office I will try to make the correcting a bit easier by using some colour coding:
Corrected
spelling
grammar
tense= brown
^^= missing words
X = surplus to requirements!
I hope that will help. For those using google docs I will use the comment button. Don't forget when you share your document to give me the editing option (får redigera)!
As a follow-up to your 5 paragraph essay there is an excellent section on
Paragraphing ( p. 89)
The opening sentence (p. 90) using different techniques to grab the reader's attention (grabbers)
Sentence length and how to vary it (p.91)
Linking words and expressions (p. 92-93)
Structuring argumentative essays (p. 93-94) by expressing yourself using ready-to-go phrases
All of these strategies can help you become a more confident writer.
However, there is one key question which must always be addressed when writing- the question of "register"
On the "Yahoo answers" website the question was asked which is the title of today's blog.
With regard to writing it is the most important question of all.
Here is how one of the people who answered the question expressed himself:
The difference between formal and informal English is not a difference between correct and incorrect, but a difference of what is known as register. A register is a variety of language related to a particular subject matter or area of activity, a set of words and expressions as well as syntactical features that may be said to characterise that specific area of language. There are many registers: technical, academic, mathematical, scientific, etc. Very broadly speaking, we can also speak of a “formal” and “informal” register in English. In writing academic reports and the like, it would be normal to draw most of the vocabulary and expressions from the formal register, and few, if any, from the informal. This entails avoiding colloquial (everyday) or slang expressions in your writing assignments. The question of register is far more complicated than indicated here; for example, there are many degrees of formality and informality
This is reflected in the curriculum and grade guidelines for our course where it talks about:
Bearbetning av språk och struktur i egna och andras framställningar, i formella och komplexa sammanhang, och för att skapa anpassning till genre, stilnivå och syfte
and for the "E" grade it says:
I muntlig och skriftlig interaktion i olika, även formella och komplexa, sammanhang kan eleven uttrycka sig tydligt, relativt ledigt och med flyt samt med anpassning till syfte, mottagare och situation.
There is a clear distinction made between "formal" English and other registers.
I want you to start off today by discussing Section A on page 95 in the "English C" book.
What conclusions did you reach in the group?
Look at the picture of the gardens- Formal or informal?
What characterises "Formal" and "Informal" writing?
Today we are going to concentrate on formal English..
In what circumstances do we use it and why?
The first hand-out today is about the use of formal English in science...
The guidelines which are presented are relevant even for non-scientific writing.
The same hand-out contains a definition of formal English and some of the areas of usage.
It also gives a comparison of levels of spoken and written English.
Your task today is to do a piece of formal writing.
You can choose Task D on page 98 in "English C" or one of the following:-
Examples of Formal English:
Report writing
Obituary
Academic essays (or parts thereof)
Minutes of a meeting
Business Letters
-Covering letter (job/course application)
-Enquiries
-Ordering
-Complaint
-Resignation
Serious Press article
Now you may begin writing!
Friday, 7 November 2014
Writing (continued) and working in the text book
Thank you for all of your essays. I will read through them this week-end and get them back to you with a grade and comments.
Today we are going to look at the five key words for writing which we talked about last time.
The words were:
organization (planning)
structure (paragraphing/ linking etc.)
style (narrative/descriptive/range)
clarity (accuracy)
register (formal/informal/ neutral)
A great resource to use for all of these points is
www.engvid.com
Here is an example to do with the introduction to a piece of writing:
http://www.engvid.com/effective-essay-introduction/
After discussing these areas it will be your opportunity to work in the text book.
I would like you to choose a text from one of the following three sections:
The Brighter side of life (p. 63 and onwards)
Drugs (p. 103 and onwards)
Poetry (you might analyze a poem http://www.wikihow.com/Analyze-Poetry or
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/a/american-poets-of-the-20th-century/how-to-analyze-poetry )
The text book contains a lot of exercises you can use to improve your English.
On Monday we will look more specifically at register and especially when to use more formal English.
Today we are going to look at the five key words for writing which we talked about last time.
The words were:
organization (planning)
structure (paragraphing/ linking etc.)
style (narrative/descriptive/range)
clarity (accuracy)
register (formal/informal/ neutral)
A great resource to use for all of these points is
www.engvid.com
Here is an example to do with the introduction to a piece of writing:
http://www.engvid.com/effective-essay-introduction/
After discussing these areas it will be your opportunity to work in the text book.
I would like you to choose a text from one of the following three sections:
The Brighter side of life (p. 63 and onwards)
Drugs (p. 103 and onwards)
Poetry (you might analyze a poem http://www.wikihow.com/Analyze-Poetry or
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/a/american-poets-of-the-20th-century/how-to-analyze-poetry )
The text book contains a lot of exercises you can use to improve your English.
On Monday we will look more specifically at register and especially when to use more formal English.
Monday, 3 November 2014
Writing course stage 1
Welcome back after the autumn break.
Remember that the presentations which could not be done before the break (on the Uk and the Bahamas)will be done at the beginning of this Friday's class.Good luck!
Today we start on our writing course. One of the positive things about the textbook is the section on writing. We will spend the first five minutes of the lesson looking at these points VERY BRIEFLY.
Here you will find a lot of the material we will discuss during our Monday lessons over the next few weeks.
We are now moving into an intensive period of writing where all of the assignments will be graded. The planner for the writing course is HERE
Now we will start off by discussing writing in groups of three to four students. Here is the handout. Today it will also be available on paper. I want you to take about 15 minutes to do the handout and give some feedback.
Now we move on to a building- block of writing-
namely the 5 paragraph essay.
Here is the first one and here is the other hand-out.
Your task BY Friday is to write a five-paragraph essay based on the title Mike will give you today. Send it to Mike's mailbox.
If you miss today's lesson it is your responsibility to find out your subject and have it done by Friday. Failure to do the tasks on the writing course without an adequate excuse will result in an "F"- warning!!!!
(You have been warned!)
A word about this Friday's lesson...
After the presentations the planner says "Text book suggestions".
You need to have something prepared when you come to Friday's class- a text from the text book -and how you are planning to work with it.
Remember that the presentations which could not be done before the break (on the Uk and the Bahamas)will be done at the beginning of this Friday's class.Good luck!
Today we start on our writing course. One of the positive things about the textbook is the section on writing. We will spend the first five minutes of the lesson looking at these points VERY BRIEFLY.
Here you will find a lot of the material we will discuss during our Monday lessons over the next few weeks.
We are now moving into an intensive period of writing where all of the assignments will be graded. The planner for the writing course is HERE
Now we will start off by discussing writing in groups of three to four students. Here is the handout. Today it will also be available on paper. I want you to take about 15 minutes to do the handout and give some feedback.
Now we move on to a building- block of writing-
namely the 5 paragraph essay.
Here is the first one and here is the other hand-out.
Your task BY Friday is to write a five-paragraph essay based on the title Mike will give you today. Send it to Mike's mailbox.
If you miss today's lesson it is your responsibility to find out your subject and have it done by Friday. Failure to do the tasks on the writing course without an adequate excuse will result in an "F"- warning!!!!
(You have been warned!)
A word about this Friday's lesson...
After the presentations the planner says "Text book suggestions".
You need to have something prepared when you come to Friday's class- a text from the text book -and how you are planning to work with it.
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