Month: October 2015

Level 2 Group 2 – Class Notes 22nd October 2015

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Objectives

  1. College survey

  2. Will you tell your story?

  3. For & against arguments – education

  4. Using Moodle & email addresses

  5. Exam – the final chapter!

  6. Arash’s presentation

  7. Listening practice

  8. Grammar – would & used to

words

a satchel:

tremendous adjective

UK   US   /trɪˈmen.dəs/

B2 very ​great in ​amount or ​level, or ​extremely good:They were making a tremendous ​amount of ​noise last ​night.She’s been a tremendous (= very ​great) ​help to me over the last few ​months.You ​won? That’s tremendous!

bemoan verb [T]

UK   /bɪˈməʊn/  US   /-ˈmoʊn/ formal

› to ​complain or ​express sadness about something:Researchers at ​universities are always bemoaning ​their ​lack of ​funds.

poise noun [U]

UK   US   /pɔɪz/ approving

› ​calm ​confidence in a person’s way of ​behaving, or a ​quality of​grace (= ​moving in an ​attractive way) and ​balance in the way a ​person ​holds or ​moves ​their ​body:He ​looked ​embarrassed for a ​moment, then ​quickly ​regained his poise.Her ​confidence and poise show that she is a ​top ​model.

parentage noun [U]

UK   /ˈpeə.rən.tɪdʒ/  US   /ˈper.ən.t̬ɪdʒ/

› When you refer to people’s parentage, you ​mean ​their ​parentsand/or ​their parent’s ​country and ​social ​class:The ​novel ​starts when a ​child of ​unknown parentage is ​left at the ​house of the ​local ​priest.She is of ​mixed Australian and ​Japanese parentage.

stranglehold noun [C usually singular]

UK   /ˈstræŋ.ɡl̩.həʊld/  US  /-hoʊld/ disapproving

› a ​position of ​complete ​control that ​prevents something from ​developing:The two ​major ​companies have been ​tightening ​their strangleholdon the ​beer ​market.

judiciary noun [C, + sing/pl verb]

UK   /dʒuːˈdɪʃ.ər.i/  US   /-ɚ-/

› the ​part of a country’s ​government that is ​responsible for ​its​legal ​system, ​including all the ​judges in the country’s ​courts:a ​member of the judiciary

stratify verb [T]

UK   /ˈstræt.ɪ.faɪ/  US   /ˈstræt̬-/

› to ​arrange the different ​parts of something in ​separate ​layersor ​groups:The ​sample of ​people ​questioned was ​drawn from the university’s ​student ​register and stratified by ​age and ​gender.a stratified ​society
stratification

noun [U] UK   /ˌstræt.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/  US   /ˌstræt̬-/ formal

›The ​prime ​minister ​wants to ​reduce ​social stratification and make the ​country a ​classless ​society. (stratified rock)

perpetuate verb [T]

UK   /pəˈpetʃ.u.eɪt/  US   /pɚˈpetʃ-/ formal

› to ​cause something to ​continue:Increasing the ​supply of ​weapons will only perpetuate the ​violenceand ​anarchy.The ​aim of the ​association is to perpetuate the ​skills of ​traditional​furniture ​design.
perpetuation

noun [U] UK   /pəˌpetʃ.uˈeɪ.ʃən/  US   /ˌpɚ.petʃ-/

›The ​lack of ​military ​action from other ​countries has ​contributed to the perpetuation of the ​civil ​war.

resent verb [T]

UK   US   /rɪˈzent/

C2 to ​feel ​angry because you have been ​forced to ​acceptsomeone or something that you do not like:She ​bitterly resented her father’s new ​wife.[+ -ing verb] He resents having to ​explain his ​work to other ​people.

More examples
resentment

noun [C or U] UK   US   /-mənt/

C2He ​feels/​harbours (a) ​deep resentment against/towards his ​parentsfor his ​miserable ​childhood.

Arash’s Presentation about Iran’s aquaducts

Level 2 Group 2 – Class notes – 21st October 2015

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Objectives

  1. Education speaking & listening

  2. Stereotypes

  3. Private schools, grammar school, state education

  4. Michael Gove reading

  5. Abdul’s student council feedback

  6. Khumbulani’s presentation – making things for free in Zimbabwe

  8. Past continuous, would & used to

    Undergraduate Open Days at Salford

http://www.salford.ac.uk/study/visit/undergraduate-open-days

For and against arguments. Discuss this statement:

“Instead of attacking the successes of private education, the state education sector should seek to learn from them.”

Arguments for:

  1. The teacher is in charge of the topics and education.
  2. Parents have more control.
  3. There is more discipline.

Arguments against:

  1. The country suffers because a lack of opportunities for everyone is not good for the health of the country.
  2. It’s more important to talk about the unfairness of private schools. They are only for the rich!
  3. Is it true that teaching is better in private schools? This might not be the case.

  • words:

Where are grammar schools in the UK?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammar_school

dunce’s cap & writing lines

grass roofed house in Zimbabwe

privilege noun

UK   US   /ˈprɪv.əl.ɪdʒ/

C1 [C or U] an ​advantage that only one ​person or ​group of ​peoplehas, usually because of ​their ​position or because they are ​rich:Healthcare should be a ​right, not a privilege.
Senior ​management ​enjoy ​certain privileges, such as ​company​ cars and ​health ​insurance.
an ​opportunity to do something ​special or ​enjoyable:I had the privilege of ​interviewing Picasso in the 1960s.It was a ​real privilege to ​meet her.›
the way in which ​rich ​people or ​people from a high ​social​ class have most of the ​advantages in ​society:a ​life of privilege›
specialized law the ​special ​right that some ​people in ​authority have that ​allows them to do or say things that other ​people are not ​allowed to:​diplomatic/​parliamentary privilege

perpetuate verb [T]

UK   /pəˈpetʃ.u.eɪt/  US   /pɚˈpetʃ-/ formal

› to ​cause something to ​continue:Increasing the ​supply of ​weapons will only perpetuate the ​violenceand ​anarchy.The ​aim of the ​association is to perpetuate the ​skills of ​traditional​furniture ​design.
perpetuation  noun [U]

dunce noun [C] (we don’t use this word these days, it’s not a nice thing to say!)

UK   US   /dʌns/ disapproving

› a ​person who is ​slow to ​learn or ​stupid, ​especially at ​school

ragged adjective

UK   US   /ˈræɡ.ɪd/

› (of ​clothes) ​torn and not in good ​condition:The ​children were ​wearing ​dirty, ragged ​clothes.› (of a ​person) ​untidy, ​dirty, and ​wearing ​old, ​torn ​clothes:Two ragged ​children ​stood ​outside the ​station, ​begging for ​money.

snatch verb [T] (TAKE QUICKLY)

C2 to take ​hold of something ​suddenly and ​roughly:He snatched the ​photos out of my ​hand before I had a ​chance to ​look at them.figurative Running the ​best ​race of his ​career, Fletcher snatched(= only just ​won) the ​gold ​medal from the ​Canadian ​champion.› to take something or someone away by ​force:The six-year-old ​girl was snatched from a ​playground and her ​bodywas ​found two ​days ​later.She had her ​purse snatched (= ​stolen) while she was ​shopping.

Level 2 Group 1 – Class notes – 20th October 2015

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Objectives

  1. Education facts quiz

  2. Education idioms homework

  3. Education presentations and pairwork

  4. The ESOL Radio show – listen here!

  5. Student council & 16-18 Student Council rep

  6. Mohammad’s presentation

  7. Past continuous, would & used to

Level 2 Group 1 – Class Notes – 19th October 2015

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Objectives
1. Stereotypes

Clipboard01

STEREOTYPE

 a set ​idea that ​people have about what someone or something is like, ​especially an ​idea that is ​wrong


How do people stereotype you?

How do you stereotype other people?

How can you challenge stereotypes every day?

2. Rayan’s presentation – Try something new for 30 days.

3. Moodle Level 2 homework week 6 – Education webquest
4. Moodle – Education in the UK chatroom
5. Eh Poh’s presentation – https://prezi.com/m-5lwkvlhqr8/places/
6. Exam – listening to a CD.

Link to Tara’s drug addiction Prezi presentation:

https://prezi.com/twtax0eqwzu4/untitled-prezi/

Words:

rebel noun [C]

UK   US   /ˈreb.əl/

B2 a ​person who is ​opposed to the ​political ​system in ​their ​country and ​tries to ​change it using ​force :The rebels took over the ​capital and set up a new ​government.
rebel ​troops/​fighters›
a ​person who does not like ​rules or ​authority, and ​shows this by ​behaving ​differently from most ​people in ​society:He was a rebel when he was a ​teenagerand ​dyed his ​hair ​pink.

patrol verb [I or T]

UK   /pəˈtrəʊl/  US  /-ˈtroʊl/ (-ll-)

› (​especially of ​soldiers or the ​police) to go around an ​area or a ​building to ​see if there is any ​trouble or ​danger:The ​whole ​town is patrolled by ​policebecause of the ​possibility of ​riots.A ​security ​guard with a ​dog patrols the ​building ​site at ​night.Coastguards ​found a ​deserted ​boatwhile patrolling (along) the ​coast.

Level 2 Group 2 – Class Notes 15th October 2015

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Objectives

1. Maths diagnotic test.

2. Translation errors

3. Education idioms.

4. What are the most important skills for a modern person?

5. Sarwat’s presentation

6. Exam video

7. Yossef and Brunilda’s exam practice

8. Training versus education. What is the difference?

  • he passed his driving test with flying colours. He’s a fantastic driver!
  • I haven’t had an easy life, I didn’t go to university but I’ve learnt the hard way. I went to the school of hard knocks to learn my lessons about life. I am learning about British Citizenship the hard way. I live in Salford. It’s the University of LIfe!
  • I was so surprised when I saw my son with a new haircut. It was crazy, but that’s the fashion these days. I guess you live and learn.
  • Children are copycats they just listen and repeat what adults say.
  • Monica is a bookworm because she reads 5 books a week! I find it difficult to learn physics as an older person. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, they say. To become a teacher pet is not an easy because, you need to work hard and always get 100%.
  • When Francis was young, if he did something wrong an adult would teach him a lesson. He would get a slap.
  • I corrected my English teacher’s grammar and spelling. He said, ‘Don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs!’
  • When I was younger I learnt the hard way not to speak back to my teacher. She would smack me if I wasn’t good.
  • When you go to a new job they train you to be professional, it’s very important to learn the ropes if you’re going to be a successful mechanic.
  • I know my national anthem off by heart.
  • The government say that all students must learn the 3 Rs, that’s why we had to do an arithmetic test this morning.

words

multilingual adjective

UK   /ˌmʌl.tiˈlɪŋ.ɡwəl/  US   /-t̬i-/

› (of ​people or ​groups) ​able to use more than two ​languages for ​communication, or (of a thing) written or ​spoken in more than two different ​languages:a multilingual ​online ​dictionary

Compare

bilingual
monolingual

flexible adjective (ABLE TO CHANGE)

B2 ​able to ​change or be ​changed ​easily ​according to the ​situation:My ​schedule is flexible – I could ​arrange to ​meet with you any ​daynext ​week.

More examples

flexible adjective (ABLE TO BEND)

C2 ​able to ​bend or to be ​bent ​easily without ​breaking:Rubber is a flexible ​substance.

Level 2 Group 1 -Level 2 Group 2 Class Notes 13th October 2015

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Objectives

  1. Review personality adjectives & crossword

  2. Discuss class representatives for student council

  3. Exam video

  4. Presentation techniques using Mark’s spidergram

  5. Sylwia’s Prezi presentation/Ana’s presentation

    https://prezi.com/2nne73uhbiga/happiness/

neither & either – story example:

Did you watch the football or Coronation Street last night?

I watched neither of them. I was out at the pub.

Child – I want an ice cream and a bar of chocolate

Parent – You can’t have both you’ll be sick! Which one do you want?

Child – Ice cream and chocolate! Please!

Parent – No. You can have either chocolate or ice cream. You have to choose.

Child – Ok, chocolate ice cream, please.

1. Pick 8 words from the personality & character traits list to describe you – underline them.

2. Pick 8 words that describe your partner and circle them.

3. Pick 8 words that describe neither of you and put a cross next to it.

4. Explain your decisions to your partner. “I think that you are smart because…. ” “I believe that I am  because …” “I don’t think either of us are …”

5. How accurate are your partner’s guesses? What personality traits do you have in common?

Exam presentation practice:

Student A – “Celebrities are a bad example for young people.”

Student B – “It is schools’ responsibility to teach children respect.”

words

swot verb [I]

UK   /swɒt/  US   /swɑːt/ (-tt-) UK informal orchild’s word

› to ​study hard, usually by ​reading about or ​learningsomething, ​especially before taking an ​exam

Phrasal verbs

swot up (sth)

swot noun [C]

UK   /swɒt/  US   /swɑːt/ (plural -tt-) UK informalor child’s word

› someone, usually a ​child, who ​studies very hard

B2 [U] the ​speed at which someone or something ​moves, or with which something ​happens or ​changes:a ​slow/​fast paceWhen she ​thought she ​heard someone ​following her, she​quickened her pace.

cyberbully noun [C]

UK   /ˈsaɪ.bəˌbʊl.i/  US   /-bɚ-/

› someone who uses the internet to ​harm or ​frighten another ​person, ​especially by ​sending them ​unpleasant ​messages

cyberbullying

noun [U]

anorexia nervosa noun [U]

UK   /æn.əˌrek.si.ə.nəˈvəʊ.sə/  US   /-nɚˈvoʊ-/(informal anorexia)

› a ​serious ​mental ​illness in which a ​person does not ​eat, or ​eats too little, often ​resulting in ​dangerous ​weight ​loss :Reports of anorexia and other ​eating ​disorders are on the ​increase.

Compare

bulimia noun [U]

UK   US   /bʊˌlɪm.i.ə/ /-ˈliː.mi-/

› a ​mental ​illness in which someone ​eats in an ​uncontrolledway and in ​large ​amounts, then ​vomits ​intentionally

conceit noun (PRIDE)

› [U] the ​state of being too ​proud of yourself and ​your ​actions:The conceit of that man is ​incredible!

bewildered adjective

US   /bɪˈwɪl·dərd/

› ​confused and ​uncertain:He ​sat up in ​bed, bewildered, ​unsure of where he was.

narcissist noun [C]

UK   /ˈnɑː.sɪ.sɪst/  US   /ˈnɑːr.sə-/

› someone who has too much ​admiration for himself or herself
narcissistic adjective

xenophobia noun [U]

UK   /ˌzen.əˈfəʊ.bi.ə/  US   /-ˈfoʊ-/

C2 ​extreme ​dislike or ​fear of ​foreigners, ​their ​customs, ​their​religions, etc.
xenophobic adjective

plagiarize verb [I or T]

(UK usually plagiarise) UK   /ˈpleɪ.dʒər.aɪz/ US   /-dʒə.raɪz/

› to use another person’s ​ideas or ​work and ​pretend that it is ​your own:The ​book ​contains ​numerous plagiarized ​passages.If you ​compare the two ​books ​side by ​side, it is ​clear that the ​author of the second has plagiarized (from the first).

plagiarism

noun [U] UK   /-dʒər.ɪ.zəm/  US   /-dʒɚ.ɪ.zəm/

›She’s been ​accused of plagiarism.

plagiarist

neither determiner, pronoun, conjunction, adverb

UK   /ˈnaɪ.ðər//ˈniː-/  US   /-ðɚ/

B2 not either of two things or ​people:We’ve got two TVs, but neither ​works ​properly.Neither of my ​parents ​likes my ​boyfriend.Neither one of us is ​interested in ​gardening.

either adverb

UK   /ˈaɪ.ðər/ /ˈiː-/  US   /-ðɚ/

B1 used in ​negative ​sentences ​instead of “also” or “too”:I don’t ​eat ​meat and my ​husband doesn’t either.“I’ve never been to the States.” “I haven’t either.”They do really good ​food at that ​restaurant and it’s not very ​expensive either.
dreadlocks:

Level 2 Group Moral dilemmas & personality words

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Objectives

  1. Moral dilemmas

  2. what is character

  3. writing a description using the personality words we have used in the past couple of lessons

  4. Using past simple, present simple & present perfect in a piece of writing

  5. practice proof-reading

  6. watch the exam video and practice discussion and listening

moral adjective

UK   /ˈmɒr.əl/  US   /ˈmɔːr-/

B2 ​relating to the ​standards of good or ​bad ​behaviour, ​fairness, ​honesty, etc. that each ​person ​believes in, ​rather than to ​laws:It’s her moral ​obligation to ​tell the ​police what she ​knows.It is not ​part of a novelist’s ​job to make a moral ​judgment.She was the only ​politician to ​condemn the ​proposed ​law on moral ​grounds (= for moral ​reasons).

dilemma noun [C]

UK   US   /daɪˈlem.ə/ /dɪ-/

B2 a ​situation in which a ​difficult ​choice has to be made between two different things you could do:The ​president is ​clearly in a dilemma about/over how to ​tackle the ​crisis.She ​faces the dilemma of ​disobeying her ​father or losing the man she ​loves.a ​moral/​ethical dilemma

genetics noun [U]

UK   /dʒəˈnet.ɪks/  US   /-ˈnet̬-/

B2 the ​study of how, in all ​living things, the ​characteristics and ​qualities of ​parents are given to ​their ​children by ​their ​genes

dreadlocks noun [plural]

UK   /ˈdred.lɒks/  US   /-lɑːks/ (informaldreads )

› a ​hairstyle in which the ​hair ​hangs in ​long ​thick ​twisted​pieces

ginger noun (SPICE)

› [U] the ​spicy ​root of a ​tropical ​plant that is used in ​cooking or ​preserved in ​sugar:​ground (= ​powdered) ginger​crystallized gingerginger ​biscuits/​cake

ginger noun (COLOUR)

› [U] UK a ​red or orange-brown ​colour

congregation noun [C, + sing/pl verb]

UK   /ˌkɒŋ.ɡrɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/  US   /ˌkɑːŋ-/

› a ​group of ​people who have come together in a ​religious​building for ​worship and ​prayer:The ​priest ​asked the congregation to ​kneel.

nationalism noun [U]

UK   US   /ˈnæʃ.ən.əl.ɪ.zəm/ /ˈnæʃ.nə.lɪ-/

› a nation’s ​wish and ​attempt to be ​politically ​independent› a ​great or too ​great ​love of ​your own ​country:The ​book ​documents the ​rise of the ​political ​right with ​its​accompanying ​strands of nationalism and ​racism.

patriot noun [C]

UK   /ˈpæt.ri.ət/ /ˈpeɪ.tri-/  US   /ˈpeɪ.tri.ɑːt/

› a ​person who ​loves ​their ​country and, if ​necessary, will ​fightfor it

hedonism noun [U]

UK   US   /ˈhed.ən.ɪ.zəm/

› ​living and ​behaving in ​ways that ​mean you get as much ​pleasure out of ​life as ​possible, ​according to the ​belief that the most ​important thing in ​life is to ​enjoy yourself

hedonist

noun [C] UK   US   /-ɪst/

hedonistic

adjective UK   US   /ˌhed.ənˈɪs.tɪk/

materialism noun [U]

UK   /məˈtɪə.ri.ə.lɪ.zəm/  US   /-ˈtɪr.i-/

materialism noun [U] (MONEY)

C2 the ​belief that having ​money and possessions is the most ​important thing in ​life:So have we ​become a ​self-centred ​society, ​preoccupied with materialism?

materialism noun [U] (PHYSICAL)

› specialized social sciences, religion the ​belief that only ​physical ​matter ​exists and the ​spiritual ​world does not

obstinate adjective

UK   /ˈɒb.stɪ.nət/  US   /ˈɑːb.stə-/

› ​unreasonably ​determined, ​especially to ​act in a ​particular way and not to ​change at all, ​despite what anyone ​else says:He can be very obstinate at ​times.her obstinate ​refusal to ​compromise› [before noun] used to ​describe a ​problem, ​situation, or thing that is ​difficult to ​deal with, ​remove, or ​defeat:obstinate ​weedsInvading ​troops ​met with obstinate ​resistance by ​guerrilla ​forces.

desperate adjective

UK   /ˈdes.pər.ət/  US   /-pɚ-/

desperate adjective (SERIOUS)

C2 very ​serious or ​bad:desperate ​povertya desperate ​shortage of ​food/​suppliesThe ​situation is desperate – we have no ​food, very little ​water and no ​medical ​supplies.› very ​great or ​extreme:The ​earthquake ​survivors are in desperate need of ​help.He has a desperate ​desire to ​succeed.

dispirited adjective

UK   /dɪˈspɪr.ɪ.tɪd/  US   /-t̬ɪd/

› not ​feeling much ​hope about a ​particular ​situation or ​problem:The ​troops were dispirited and ​disorganized.

dispiriting

adjective UK   /-tɪŋ/  US   /-t̬ɪŋ/

›It was a ​bit dispiriting to ​see so few ​people at the ​meeting.

personality noun

UK   /ˌpɜː.sənˈæl.ə.ti/  US   /ˌpɝː.sənˈæl.ə.t̬i/

personality noun (CHARACTER)

B2 [C or U] the ​type of ​person you are, ​shown by the way you ​behave, ​feel, and ​think:She has a very ​warm personality.He is well ​qualified for the ​job, but he does ​lack personality (= he is a ​boring ​person).

More examples

personality noun (FAMOUS PERSON)

B2 [C] a ​famous ​person:The show is ​hosted by a ​popular TV personality.

character noun

UK   /ˈkær.ɪk.tər/  US   /ˈker.ɪk.tɚ/

character noun (QUALITY)

B1 [C or U] the ​particular ​combination of ​qualities in a ​person or ​place that makes them different from ​others:Politeness is ​traditionally ​part of the British character.It would be very out of character (= not ​typical) of her to ​lie.One of the joys of being a ​parent is ​watching the child’s character ​develop

xenophobia noun [U]

UK   /ˌzen.əˈfəʊ.bi.ə/  US   /-ˈfoʊ-/

C2 ​extreme ​dislike or ​fear of ​foreigners, ​their ​customs, ​their ​religions, etc.

xenophobic

adjective UK   US  

.

spiritual adjective

UK   US  /ˈspɪr.ɪ.tju.əl/

B2 ​relating to ​deep ​feelings and ​beliefs, ​especially ​religious ​beliefs:Traditional ​ways of ​life ​fulfilled both ​economic and spiritual ​needs.

spiritualism noun [U]

UK   US  /ˈspɪr.ɪ.tju.əl.ɪ.zəm/

› the ​belief that ​living ​people can ​communicate with ​people who have ​died

spiritualist

noun [C]

values plural noun

US   /ˈvæl·juz/

› the ​principles that ​help you to ​decidewhat is ​right and ​wrong, and how to ​act in ​various ​situations:The ​political ​platform is ​based on ​traditional values ​associated with the ​rural ​South.

self-conscious adjective

UK   /ˌselfˈkɒn.ʃəs/  US   /-ˈkɑːn-/

C1 ​nervous or ​uncomfortable because you are ​worried about what ​people​think about you or ​your ​actions:He ​looked ​uncomfortable, like a self-conscious ​adolescent.

More examples

self-consciously

adverb

narcissist noun [C]

UK   /ˈnɑː.sɪ.sɪst/  US  /ˈnɑːr.sə-/

› someone who has too much ​admiration for himself or herself

narcissistic

adjective UK   /ˌnɑː.sɪˈsɪs.tɪk/  US   /ˌnɑːr.sə-/

›a narcissistic ​personality

too much and too many

intensifying adverbs

Level 2 Group 1 Class Notes 6th October 2015 & Group 2 7th October

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Objectives

  1. Learning about the exam in January

  2. Words to describe people

  3. Presentations

  4. Grammar explanations & team work

  5. Present Perfect & Past Simple

Today’s words

Bungee jump

awkward adjective (DIFFICULT)

B2 ​difficult to use, do, or ​deal with:It’s an awkward ​corner, so take it ​slowly.Some of the ​questions were ​rather awkward.It was an awkward ​ascent, but we ​reached the ​top ​eventually.[+ to infinitive] My car’s ​quite awkward to ​drive.He’s an awkward ​customer (= a ​difficult ​person to ​deal with).

More examples

awkward adjective (EMBARRASSING)

B2 ​causing ​problems, ​worry, or ​embarrassment:an awkward ​position/​situationThere ​followed an awkward ​silence while we all ​tried to ​think of something to say.

impress verb [I or T, not continuous]

UK   US   /ɪmˈpres/

B2 to ​cause someone to ​admire or ​respect you:I ​remember when I was a ​child being very impressed with how many ​toys she had.Your ​mother was ​clearly not impressed by ​our ​behaviour in the ​restaurant.

fascinated adjective

UK   /ˈfæs.ɪ.neɪ.tɪd/  US   /-t̬ɪd/

B2 ​extremely ​interested:We ​watched fascinated as he ​cleaned and ​repaired the ​watch.I was fascinated to ​hear about his ​travels in Japan.They were ​absolutely fascinated by the ​game.

dice noun [C] (GAME)

C2 (US also or old use die) a ​small ​cube (= ​object with six ​equal​square ​sides) with a different ​number of ​spots on each ​side, used in ​games ​involving ​chance:We need two dice to ​play the ​game.You ​roll/​throw the dice and whoever gets the ​highest ​score goes first.

dice verb (CUT)

C2 [T] to ​cut ​food into ​small ​squares:Peel and dice the ​potatoes.diced ​carrots

dice verb (GAME)

dice with death› to do something ​extremely ​dangerous and ​silly:You’re dicing with ​death ​driving at that ​speed on ​icy ​roads.

Present Perfect

Level 2 Group 1 Class Notes – 5th October 2015 – IT workshop lesson – WORK HARD!

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Objectives – today’s lesson will be ‘workshop style’ (you do the work and I shop online on ebay … only joking …

Here is what you need to do by the end of today (hopefully).

  1. Complete your Level 2 paper-based diagnostic test.
  2. Go on BKSB and do the Functional English Initial Assessment. You need to achieve Level 1. If you haven’t got a Level 1 result yet – this is what you will be doing today. Work through the lower level exercises and then I will re-set and you will re-take the test.
  3. Complete the BKSB Maths Initial Assessment. The college insists that you do this. Every student has to have their maths level assessed and then we can work on improving your maths level throughout the year.
  4. Have you had a one-to-one I.L.P. with me? If not, you need to book one in.
  5. Do you know when you are doing your Monday 5 minute video presentation? And your Tuesday 10 minute Prezi presentation!!!!!!??? If you want to work on your PREZI, you can do this today.
  6. Test your Level 2 skills Becta website: Linking ideas Level 2: Writing and Listening
  7. Test your Level 2 skills Becta website: Practice test – reading Level 2: Reading
  8. Test your writing skills here: https://sat.ilexir.co.uk/

Today’s words

Use a prefix to write the opposite of a word:

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-rule-for-adding-im-in-in-front-of-prefix-certain-words-in-English-to-mean-the-opposite

  1. unambitious
  2. unreliable
  3. dishonest
  4. unpunctual
  5. incompetent
  6. unconfident
  7. uncreative
  8. disloyal

A noun for the adjectives

  1. competence & competency
  2. reliability
  3. ambition
  4. honesty
  5. punctuality
  6. creativity
  7. loyalty
  8. confidence
  9. determination
  10. laziness
  11. jealousy

determination noun

UK   /dɪˌtɜː.mɪˈneɪ.ʃən/  US   /-ˌtɝː-/

determination noun (TRYING HARD)

B2 [U] the ​ability to ​continue ​trying to do something, ​although it is very ​difficult:a man of ​fierce/​ruthless determination

Level 2 Group 2 Class Notes 1st October 2015

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Class objectives

  1. Reading a TV review

  2. Indirect questions

  3. Personality descriptions

Today’s words:

plot noun [C]

UK   /plɒt/  US   /plɑːt/

plot noun [C] (STORY)

B2 the ​story of a ​book, ​film, ​play, etc.:The ​movie has a very ​simple plot.The plots of his ​books are ​basically all the same.

More examples

plot noun [C] (PLAN)

› a ​secret ​plan made by several ​people to do something that is ​wrong, ​harmful, or not ​legal, ​especially to do ​damage to a ​person or a ​government:The plot was ​discovered before it was ​carried out.[+ to infinitive] The ​police have ​foiled a plot to ​assassinate the ​president.

awkward adjective (DIFFICULT)

B2 ​difficult to use, do, or ​deal with:It’s an awkward ​corner, so take it ​slowly.Some of the ​questions were ​rather awkward.It was an awkward ​ascent, but we ​reached the ​top ​eventually.[+ to infinitive] My car’s ​quite awkward to ​drive.He’s an awkward ​customer (= a ​difficult ​person to ​deal with).

More examples

awkward adjective (EMBARRASSING)

B2 ​causing ​problems, ​worry, or ​embarrassment:an awkward ​position/​situationThere ​followed an awkward ​silence while we all ​tried to ​think of something to say.

date noun [C] (MEETING)

B1 a ​social ​meeting ​planned before it ​happens, ​especially one between two ​people who have or might have a ​romantic​relationship:He ​asked her out on a date.She has a ​hot date (= an ​exciting ​meeting) ​tonight.› mainly US a ​person you have a ​romantic ​meeting with:Who’s ​your date for the ​prom?

amuse verb [I or T]

UK   US   /əˈmjuːz/

B2 to ​entertain someone, ​especially by ​humorous ​speech or ​action or by making them ​laugh or ​smile:I’ve ​brought an ​article from yesterday’s ​paper that I ​thought might amuse you.[+ obj + to infinitive ] I ​think it amuses him to ​see ​people make ​fools of themselves.Apparently these ​stories are ​meant to amuse.B2 to ​keep someone ​happy, ​especially for a ​short ​time:We amused ​our​selves by ​watching the passers-by.Shall I put on a ​DVD to amuse the ​kids?

loathe verb [T]

UK   /ləʊð/  US   /loʊð/

C2 to ​hate someone or something:From an early ​age the ​brothers have loathed each other.“Do you like ​fish?” “No, I loathe it.”[+ -ing verb] I loathe doing ​housework.

trivial adjective

UK   US   /ˈtrɪv.i.əl/

B2 having little ​value or ​importance:I don’t ​know why he gets so ​upset about something so trivial.Sexual ​harassment in the ​workplace is not a trivial ​matter.› A trivial ​problem is ​easy to ​solve:Getting ​computers to ​understand ​human ​language is not a trivial ​problem.

mundane adjective

UK   US   /mʌnˈdeɪn/

C1 very ​ordinary and ​therefore not ​interesting:Mundane ​matters such as ​paying ​bills and ​shopping for ​food do not ​interest her.

science fiction noun [U]

UK   US   (informal sci-fi, also SF)

B1 ​books, ​films, or ​cartoons about an ​imagined ​future, ​especiallyabout ​space ​travel or other ​planets:a science-fiction ​novel/​story

Flat pack furniture

Car bonnet

 An old fashioned ladies’ bonnet

Listen to some punk rock music! Do you like it????