Library News / Homework post / Vocabulary from Friday

Hello everyone,

I hope you're enjoying your long weekend. One and a half more glorious days! Just letting you know that there is a small library at our school and I will share further details with you on Monday.

Also, your homework is page 76/77 "Reading" Exercises 1, 2 and 3. and "Writing Skills: giving reasons and describing consequences" exercises 1, 2 and 3. We will go over the answers after our presentations Monday morning and begin our writing assignment.

Last, below are the idioms that we looked at on Friday. I think I listed all of the ones that were on the board. I included some extra expressions as well.

To be splashed out / to splash out
to take a huge chunk out of (something)
To have money swallowed up
To want a slice of the pie
To pour money down the drain
To pour money into something
To have a problem with cash flow
To give one's two cents / to put in one's two cents
to be a penny pincher
to live from hand to mouth
to live from paycheque to paycheque
to be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
to have everything handed to you
to be dirt poor
to be filthy rich
to go from rags to riches

loose change
spare change
pocket change
spending money
to settle the bill
to inherit a small fortune
to be desperately poor

Our Speeches

Hello everyone,

         If you'd like to have your speeches looked at more closely, please type them and post them here. You can also send them to our class e-mail if you are more comfortable with that.

Best,

J

Speeches

Choose one of the speeches below. Listen to the speech, and then answer questions 1-5 below.


1) Martin Luther King Jr.'s Speech "I Have a Dream"

        You can find the transcript here: Transcript


2) Barack Obama's Speech "Yes, We Can"

         You can find the transcript here: Transcript


Rhetorical Devices
> Contrast -- comparison, opposite, not this but...
> Puzzles and Questions -- Problems / Solutions, Problems / Questions, Problems in the past and looking toward the future etc.
> Lists of three - different words, identical words or identical  phrases (repetition)

Questions

1. What examples of rhetoric did you hear during the speech? (List 5-7 examples)
2. Do you notice any patterns with intonation? (When does the speaker speak louder? quieter?)
3. When does the speaker pause? When does the speaker talk quickly? Why is this important?
4. In your opinion, is this a persuasive speech? Why or why not?
5. What part of the speech was your favourite? Why?

* Please bring your answers to class tomorrow :)

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If you like Shakespeare, here are the speeches from Julius Caesar if you're interested!


3) Brutus' Speech - Julius Caesar
         You can find the transcript here: Transcript


4) Antony's Speech - Julius Caesar (begins at 17 seconds)
         You can find the transcript here: Transcript (scroll down to "Antony""Friends, Romans,       countrymen, lend me your ears;"

Welcome to High Intermediate!

Hello everyone,

Welcome to High Intermediate. This is our class blog. I use this blog to post some homework assignments and to keep you updated with your homework assignments. Please check this blog at least 3 times per week to make sure you're completing all of your homework.

For this class, you need the Global Upper Intermediate textbook. Please make sure that you have this book by Wednesday of this week.

I look forward to meeting all of you!

Practice Tests

Hello everyone,

Here are a few websites that you can use to practice your listening and reading for your PET test tomorrow.

Good Luck Studying!

• http://www.examenglish.com/PET/index.php (look at the right side of the page)

• http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/preliminaryenglish/index.htm  (Look at the "PET Practice Tests" section)

• http://www.english-online.org.uk/petfolder/pethome.php?name=Practice%20for%20the%20Preliminary%20English%20Test (Look at the top of the page. Choose Test 1, Test 2 or Test 3. Then click on Listening, Reading Writing or Speaking to practice the test.)

• http://esl-bits.net/interact/sets/Set1_frame.htm (Look at the top of the page. Choose signs, details, matching,  gist or gap from the top of the page and click on it.

• http://www.cambridge.org/gb/elt/catalogue/subject/project/custom/item5633511/Complete-PET-PET-for-Schools-Practice-test/?site_locale=en_GB&currentSubjectID=382391

March 18

Hello everybody,

I'm just giving you a heads up, I will not be in class today. I was lifting weights yesterday and my back and legs are so sore that I can't walk! You will have a supply teacher. He / she  is going to teach very important grammar today. We will go over the grammar tomorrow.


to give a heads up - to make you aware / to tell you
so sore - so + adjective
sore - in pain / to ache
go over  - review

Homework due March 15

Hello everyone,

Today we studied present perfect. Review the uses of the present perfect below and then finish the sentences from a to f at the bottom.

Review:

First, we use it to talk about an unspecified time before now. This can refer to:

a) experience > I have been to France. > I have studied foreign languages

b) changes over time >  You have grown since the last time I saw you. 

c) accomplishments > I have learned to speak English. 

d) an uncompleted action you are expecting > I haven't finished my homework yet. > My friends have not arrived.

e) multiple actions at different times > I have had four quizzes and five tests this semester so far.

f) with time expressions such as: in the last week, in the last year, this week, this month, so far, up to now etc.

Second, we use the present perfect for an action that started in the past and continues until now.

a) consider using words and time expressions such as, For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since ...." 

Examples:

I have had a cold for two weeks
I have been studying English for two years.

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Questions:

a)    What have you done since yesterday? 

Since yesterday I have... 

b)    What is the best thing you have ever done? 

The best thing I've ever done is...

c)    What’s the funniest thing you have ever heard? 

The funniest thing I have ever heard is... 

d)    What’s the biggest accomplishment you have ever made?

The biggest accomplishment I have ever made is.... 

e)    How long have you wanted to study English?

I have wanted to study English since/for... 

f) Name something that you've wanted to do for a long time but you haven't done it yet.

I've wanted to __________ for (amount of time) but I haven't yet.

March 12

Hello,

Try to respond to the post, but if it gives you trouble just e-mail the class e-mail :)

How is your personality different now, then what it used to be?
        a. When I was younger my personality used to be... (give evidence of your personality)
        b. Now, my personality is much different / very similar (Explain)

Example:

When I was younger, I used to be a very hard worker. I would stay at home on weekends to  do extra homework so that my grades were high. I used to be very quiet and shy, I would never talk to anyone and I hated meeting new people. Also,  I used to be very jealous, I always wanted what everyone else had.

Now, my personality is much different. I am more relaxed and I try not to focus too much on my work. Now I try to have more fun and enjoy myself.  I am not as quiet and shy and I make friends much easier than before. Also, I am much more grateful for everything that I have; I'm not as jealous as I used to be.

Homework due Monday March 11

Finish the sentences below.

1) I get furious when...
2) I'm always astonished when I...
3) I get exhausted when...
4) I'm always delighted when...
5) I sometimes feel miserable when...
6) I think __________ is incredible because....
7) An enormous issue I have with learning English is... 


Don't forget to use our class e-mail and to put your name in your response.

Also, remember late tonight (2am March 10) we turn the clocks forward one hour.

Have a great weekend!

News Article

 Hello everyone,

Please remember to read a news article and take important notes so that you can summarize the article for all of us in class tomorrow.  You can use any English news article. If you're looking for a good website with relevant news, check out: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/

Have a great evening!

Online Practice Tests

You can use the websites below to practice your reading and listening for your PET test tomorrow

• http://www.examenglish.com/PET/index.php (look at the right side of the page)

• http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/preliminaryenglish/index.htm

•  http://www.english-online.org.uk/petfolder/pethome.php?name=Practice%20for%20the%20Preliminary%20English%20Test (Look at the top of the page. Choose Test 1, Test 2 or Test 3. Then click on Listening, Reading Writing or Speaking to practice the test.)

• http://esl-bits.net/interact/sets/Set1_frame.htm (Choose signs, details, matching,  gist or gap from the top of the page and click on it.)

Discussion Questions for Expressions

Try to comment on this post and answer three of the following questions:
 You will be able to comment if you have a g-mail account.

1. Which member of your family do you have a lot in common with? Which member of your family do you  not have very much in common with? Name a few examples of what you have in common.

2. Which person in your family do you get on with the most? the least?

3.  What are some things about friends, brothers or sisters that you don't like, but you put up with?

4. Describe a time you had a falling out with someone.

5. How will you keep in touch with friends when you return to your country?

6. Have you ever lost touch with a close friend or family member? Why / How did you lose touch?