Month: March 2016

“I didn’t use to smoke when I was 10.” Entry 3 Group 2 class notes 30th March 2016

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Objectives

  1. What did you use to do as a child?

  2. Used to exercises & talking

  3. Used to Goyte song

  4. Mohammed’s presentation on William Shakespeare and Martin Luther King Jr.

    Shakespeare and his plays:

In Salford children used to play hopscotch:

Martin Luther King Jr.:

play cricket:

skip:

play leapfrog:

Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra) – official video

Ruth used to listen to this music in Ghana:

Today’s words:

School uniform:

Police uniform:

a suit – matching jacket and trousers:

mushrooms:

 

 

Illegible & insipid ‘Dictionary race’ Level 2 Group 2 – 30th March 2016

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Objectives

  1. Dictionary race – practice using dictionaries quickly

  2. Regrets & conditionals

  3. Giving advice

  5. Discoursive essay about homelessness

Today’s words:

illegible adjective

 › (of writing or ​print) ​impossible or ​almost ​impossible to ​readbecause of being very ​untidy or not ​clear:His writing is ​almost illegible.

insipid adjective

 › not having a ​strong ​taste or ​character, or having no ​interestor ​energy:a ​pale insipid ​wineHe’s an insipid ​old ​bore.Why anyone ​buys ​music with such insipid ​lyrics is a ​mystery.

peckish adjective

 › ​slightly ​hungry:By ten o’clock I was ​feeling peckish, ​even though I’d had a ​large​breakfast.

stingy adjective

 › ​unwilling to ​spend ​money:He’s really stingy and never ​buys anyone a ​drink when we go out.The ​landlords are so stingy – they ​refused to ​pay for new ​carpets.

Scrooge:

hovel noun [C]

 › a ​small ​home that is ​dirty and in ​bad ​condition

chance noun

 chance noun (OPPORTUNITY)

B1 [C] an ​occasion that ​allows something to be done:I didn’t get/have a chance to ​speak to her.[+ to infinitive] If you give me a chance to ​speak, I’ll ​explain.Society has to give ​prisoners a second chance when they come out of ​jail.He ​left and I ​missed my chance to say ​goodbye to him.I’d go now given ​half a chance (= if I had the ​slightest​opportunity).

Synonym

opportunity

exacerbate verb [T]

 › to make something that is already ​bad ​even ​worse:This ​attack will exacerbate the already ​tense ​relations between the two ​communities.

partially adverb

 C1 not ​completely:The ​meat was only partially ​cooked.

expend iconexpend iconMore examples

acquiesce verb [I]

 › to ​accept or ​agree to something, often ​unwillingly:Reluctantly, he acquiesced to/in the ​plans.

debris noun [U]

 › ​broken or ​torn ​pieces of something ​larger:Debris from the ​aircraft was ​scattered over a ​large ​area.

able adjective

 able adjective (CAN DO)

be able to do sth

expend iconexpend iconMore examples

  • I’ve never been able to do ​crosswords.

  • Dr Jones is very ​busy but I’m ​sure she’ll be able to ​see you ​tomorrow.

    bold adjective (BRAVE)

B2 not ​frightened of ​danger:She was a bold and ​fearless ​climber.The ​newspaper made the bold ​move/took the bold ​step of ​publishing the ​names of the men ​involved.

  • bold adjective (NOTICEABLE)

B1 ​strong in ​colour or ​shape, and very ​noticeable to the ​eye:They ​painted the ​kitchen in bold ​colours.in bold (type/print)› ​printed in ​thick ​dark ​letters:This ​sentence is ​printed in bold.

weary adjective

C2 very ​tired, ​especially after ​working hard for a ​long ​time:I ​think he’s a little weary after his ​long ​journey.Here, ​sit down and ​rest ​your weary ​legs.weary ofC2 ​bored with something because you have ​experienced too much of it:I’ve been going out with the same ​people to the same ​places for ​years and I’ve just ​grown weary of it.

miser noun [C]

 › someone who has a ​strong ​wish to have ​money and ​hates to ​spend it

hovel noun [C]

 › a ​small ​home that is ​dirty and in ​bad ​condition

stingy adjective

 › ​unwilling to ​spend ​money:He’s really stingy and never ​buys anyone a ​drink when we go out.The ​landlords are so stingy – they ​refused to ​pay for new ​carpets.

peckish adjective

 › ​slightly ​hungry:By ten o’clock I was ​feeling peckish, ​even though I’d had a ​large​breakfast.

insipid adjective

› not having a ​strong ​taste or ​character, or having no ​interestor ​energy:a ​pale insipid ​wineHe’s an insipid ​old ​bore.

illegible adjective

› (of writing or ​print) ​impossible or ​almost ​impossible to ​readbecause of being very ​untidy or not ​clear:His writing is ​almost illegible.

idiom:

take someone for a ride 2. Fig. to deceive someone. You really took those people for a ride. They really believed you. I was taken fora ride on this matter.

a hammock:

“What are you going to do tomorrow?” Entry 1 31st March 2016

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F5A_New_Picture_43

Try making sentnces:

Slideshare PowerPoint

Online quizzes:

https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-games/going-plans

http://www.mes-games.com/future1.php

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=5640

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/future-1-going-to/exercises

Today’s words:

climb:

eat with chopsticks:

picnic:

 

British Council app for phones QR code:

Download from Google Play    Download from iTunes

johnny british council

http://www.slideshare.net/rosarioa.slide/f-u-t-u-r-e-t-e-n-s-e-s

“If you were my husband, I’d poison your coffee” Level 2 – conditionals exercises 28 March 2016

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Conditionals: if – will – would – might

Watch the video or read the explanation and try the grammar
exercises.

Conditionals can be difficult to understand. For everyone!

But if you can understand the meaning of IF or MIGHT or WILL you are
halfway to understanding how conditionals work.

I will let couple of very clever Youtube teachers explain and you can see if you
understand.

Grammar Exercises …

Conditionals: if – will – would – might

Written explanations.

1) http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-conditional_4.htm

2) http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/3cond.htm

3) http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/thirdconditional/menu.php

Here are the usual tests:

http://www.nonstopenglish.com/exercise.asp?exid=899

http://kidseslgames.com/grammar%20games/Conditionals/firstcondition…

http://kidseslgames.com/grammar%20games/Conditionals/secondconditio…

http://kidseslgames.com/grammar%20games/Conditionals/thirdcondition…

http://www.esltower.com/GRAMMARQUIZ/preintermediate/zero%20conditio…

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/thirdconditional/exercise1.swf

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/thirdconditional/exercise2.swf

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/thirdconditional/exercise3.swf

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/thirdconditional/exercise4.swf

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/thirdconditional/exercise5.swf

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/con31.htm

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/3cond1.htm

https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/advanced3/test_builder_adv?cc=gb&selLanguage=en  – various grammar quizzes

http://www.autoenglish.org/gr.con3.i.htm

http://www.impact-english.com/members/Grammar_Practice/Always/test-…

Good luck! If you have any questions let me know. Here are another couple of
videos that might help explain things – and help those that found the
exercises too difficult:

First some more songs that use conditionals:


Then some funny conditionals used in one of my favourite tv show, ‘The Big Bang
Theory’:

Good luck!

Endanger, accustom, don’t mind, detest: Level 2 Group 1 new vocabulary – 22nd March 2016

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endanger verb [T]

UK   /ɪnˈdeɪn.dʒər/  US   /ɪnˈdeɪn.dʒɚ/

› to put someone or something at ​risk or in ​danger of being ​harmed, ​damaged, or ​destroyed:He would never do anything to endanger the ​lives of his ​children.We must be ​careful not to do anything that might endanger the ​economic ​recovery.

expend iconexpend iconThesaurus

per preposition

UK   strong /pɜːr/ weak /pər/  US   /pɝː/  /pɚ/

A2 used when ​expressing ​rates, ​prices, or ​measurements to ​mean “for each”:The ​meal will ​cost $20 per ​person.The ​car was ​travelling at 70 ​miles per ​hour (70 ​mph).There are more ​cafés per ​square ​mile here than ​anywhere ​else in the ​country.

accustom yourself to sth

— phrasal verb with accustom UK   /əˈkʌs.təm/  US  /əˈkʌs.təm/ verb

› to make yourself ​familiar with new ​conditions:It’ll take ​time for me to accustom myself to the ​changes.

get through sth

— phrasal verb with get UK   /ɡet/  US   /ɡet/ verb(present participle getting, past tense got, past participle got or USusually gotten)

B2 to ​succeed in an ​exam or ​competition:She got through her ​exams without too much ​trouble.

expend iconexpend iconMore examples

  • (FINISH)

C2 to ​finish something:I can get through a lot more ​work when I’m on my own.We’ve got a lot to get through today.


appreciate verb

  • appreciate verb (VALUE)

B2 to ​recognize how good someone or something is and to ​value him, her, or it:There’s no ​point ​buying him ​expensive ​wines – he doesn’t appreciate them.C2 [T] to ​understand a ​situation and ​realize that it is ​important:We appreciate the need for ​immediate ​action.[+ that] I appreciate that it’s a ​difficult ​decision for you to make.

detest verb [T not continuous]

› to ​hate someone or something very much:I detest any ​kind of ​cruelty.[+ -ing verb] I detest having to get up when it’s ​dark ​outside.her detested ​older ​brother

  • mind verb (BE ANNOYED)

A2 [I or T] (used in ​questions and ​negatives) to be ​annoyed or ​worried by something:Do you ​think he’d mind if I ​borrowed his ​book?[+ -ing verb] I don’t mind having a ​dog in the ​house so ​long as it’s ​clean.informal I wouldn’t mind (= I would like) something to ​eat, if that’s OK.Would you mind ​turning (= ​please ​turn) ​your ​radio down a little ​please?Do you mind if I (= may I) put the TV on?[+ obj + -ing verb ] Do you mind me smoking?[+ question word] I don’t mind what you ​wear so ​long as it’s not that ​awful ​pink ​shirt.I’d ​rather ​stay in ​tonight, if you don’t mind.mainly UK “Would you like ​tea or ​coffee?” “I don’t mind – either.”

  • admit verb (ACCEPT)

B1 [T or I] to ​agree that something is ​true, ​especially ​unwillingly:He admitted his ​guilt/​mistake.[+ (that)] She admitted (that) she had made a ​mistake.[+ -ing verb] She admitted making a ​mistake.At first he ​denied ​stealing the ​money but he ​later admitted (to) it.I wasn’t ​entirely ​honest with him, I admit.[+ to infinitive] The new ​law was ​generally admitted to be ​difficultto ​enforce.

avoid verb [T]

B1 to ​stay away from someone or something:I ​try to avoid ​supermarkets on Saturdays – they’re always so ​busy.I’m ​anxious to avoid the ​motorway at ​rush ​hour.Do you ​think Lukas is avoiding me? I haven’t ​seen him all ​day.

“The Minions in New York 1968” – How we used to live – Entry 3 Group 2 class notes – 23rd March 2016

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Objectives

  1. Life in other countries. Michael Palin’s, ‘Full Circle.’

  2. Past tense verbs: past simple & past continuous

  3. “Used to” for past – The Minions in New York 1968

  4. Used to – your childhood in your country – the things we used to do

  5. Mark’s nana’s life story – dictogloss

Michael Palin’s Full Circle:

(kudos to Movie Segments to Assess Grammar Goals blog)

]

Don’t resent people’s success – Level 2 Group 1 – class notes – 22nd March 2016

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Objectives:

  1. BKSB

  2. New verbs – making sentences

  3. Gerund or infinitive?

  4. Writing a silly story with the new verbs

  5. Kahoot!

Story no: 1:

“I don’t have any money left!” said Mark.

“Why not?” asked his friend, Ermintrude.

“I have just bought a new car for £100,000 on my credit card. And now I’m in trouble with the bank!”

“Wow!” said Ermintrude in shock. “How do you feel?” she asked caringly.

“Well, ” said Mark with a tear in his eye, “I regret spending the money. I’m an idiot. How about you? What’s happening in your life?”

“To be honest, ” said Ermintrude with a smile, “I’ve just split up with my boyfriend.”

“Oh no!” said Mark and looked at his friend in surprise.  Then he frowned, “How did he feel about that?”

Ermintrude was quiet for a moment. “He didn’t take it very well.” She shook her head, “If I am honest, I will admit I regret telling him by text, I should have spoken to him personally.”

“Oh my goodness!” Mark exclaimed. “I regret to tell you, Ermintrude, but you are a very cruel person!”

  1. I tried talking to her, but she wouldn’t agree to anything I said.
  2. I tried to talk to her, but they wouldn’t let me in to see her.
  3. ‘I tried talking to her’ means ‘I talked to her but it was no use.’
  4. ‘I tried to talk to her’ means ‘I couldn’t talk to her.’

I quit drinking beer.

I put off cleaning my room until tomorrow. I’m too lazy today.

I will practice singing in the class.

I postponed learning until next week.

She tolerates people whispering in the class.

I suggest playing chess.

He stops driving fast when he has been drinking.

I regret quitting my job. I regret not listening to my teacher.

I regret to tell you that it’s not home time yet.

I enjoy recalling my childhood.

I keep on talking rubbish in class every day. My teacher keeps on telling me to be quiet.

I dislike talking to students but it’s my job so I have no choice.

Today’s words:

  • tolerate verb [T] (ACCEPT)

B2 to ​accept ​behaviour and ​beliefs that are different from ​yourown, ​although you might not ​agree with or ​approve of them:I will not tolerate that ​kind of ​behaviour in my ​class.[+ -ing verb] I won’t tolerate lying.

expend iconexpend iconMore examples

  • tolerate verb [T] (DEAL WITH)

C2 to ​deal with something ​unpleasant or ​annoying, or to ​continue ​existing ​despite ​bad or ​difficult ​conditions:These ​ants can tolerate ​temperatures that would ​kill other ​species.

fond adjective (LIKING)

  • admit verb (ACCEPT)

B1 [T or I] to ​agree that something is ​true, ​especially ​unwillingly:He admitted his ​guilt/​mistake.[+ (that)] She admitted (that) she had made a ​mistake.[+ -ing verb] She admitted making a ​mistake.At first he ​denied ​stealing the ​money but he ​later admitted (to) it.I wasn’t ​entirely ​honest with him, I admit.[+ to infinitive] The new ​law was ​generally admitted to be ​difficultto ​enforce.admit defeat› to ​accept that you have ​failed and give up:After several ​attempts to ​untie the ​knot, I admitted ​defeat and ​cutthrough it with a ​knife.

expend iconexpend iconMore examples

schedule noun [C]

B2 a ​list of ​planned ​activities or things to be done ​showing the ​times or ​dates when they are ​intended to ​happen or be done:a ​production schedulea ​hectic/​tight (= very ​busy) scheduleEverything went ​according to schedule (= as had been ​planned).B1 US (UK timetable) a ​list of the ​times when ​events are ​plannedto ​happen, for ​example the ​times when ​classes ​happen or when ​buses, etc. ​leave and ​arrive:The ​class schedule is ​available on the ​website.

  • bitter adjective (ANGRY)

B2 Someone who is bitter is ​angry and ​unhappy because they cannot ​forget ​bad things that ​happened in the past:I ​feel very bitter about my ​childhood and all that I went through.
She’d ​suffered ​terribly over the ​years but it hadn’t made her bitter.
A bitter ​experience ​causes ​deep ​pain or ​anger:Failing the ​final ​exams was a bitter ​disappointment for me.She ​learned through bitter ​experience that he was not to be ​trusted.B2 ​expressing a lot of ​hate and ​anger:a bitter ​fight/​argumentbitter ​recriminationsHe gave me a bitter ​look.
Bitterness
A feeling of deep anger and resentment. Bitterness is an emotion which encompasses both anger and hate, often people who are bitter appear to the world as just going around pissed off at everyone and everything. However bitterness is often a result of some past event which has hurt, scarred and jaded the person.

Facial expressions and stance – Level 2 Group 2 – class notes – 10th March 2016

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Objectives

  1. Infinitives vs gerunds – job qualities
  2. Body language and stance
  3. Body language reading

Today’s words:

undertaker:

jester:

gunslinger:

fidget verb [I]

› to make ​continuous, ​small ​movements that ​annoy other ​people:Children can’t ​sit still for ​long without fidgeting.Stop fidgeting!

clerk noun [C]

› a ​person who ​works in an ​office, ​dealing with ​records or ​performing ​general ​office ​duties:a ​filing clerka ​junior ​office clerk› US (also salesclerk) a ​person who ​serves ​customers in a ​shop:Take ​your ​purchases to the clerk, and he will ​wrap them for you.› US (also desk clerk) a ​hotel ​employee who ​deals with ​guestswhen they ​arrive:The clerk ​checked us in and gave us ​our ​key.› US (also law clerk) a ​person who ​works with a ​judge and ​helps the ​judge make ​decisions

conceal verb [T]

C2 to ​prevent something from being ​seen or ​known about:The ​listening ​device was concealed in a ​pen.I ​tried to conceal my ​surprise when she told me her ​age.It was said that the ​police concealed ​vital ​evidence.Is there something you’re concealing from me?

Synonym

hide

stance noun [C]

stance noun [C] (OPINION)

C2 a way of ​thinking about something, ​especially ​expressed in a ​publicly ​stated ​opinion:The doctor’s stance on the ​issue of ​abortion is well ​known.

  • stance noun [C] (POSITION)

› a ​particular way of ​standing:Jenny took up a stance with her ​feet ​slightly ​apart, ​ready to ​catchthe ​ball.

eager adjective

B2 ​wanting very much to do or have something, ​especiallysomething ​interesting or ​enjoyable:the children’s eager ​faces[+ to infinitive] She ​sounded very eager to ​meet you.They ​crowded around the ​spokesperson, eager for any ​news.

solve verb [T]

B1 to ​find an ​answer to a ​problem:to solve a ​problemto solve a ​mystery/​puzzle

improvise verb [I or T]

› to ​invent or make something, such as a ​speech or a ​device, at the ​time when it is ​needed without already having ​planned it:I hadn’t ​prepared a ​speech so I ​suddenly had to improvise.We improvised a ​mattress from a ​pile of ​blankets.› When ​actors or ​musicians improvise, they ​perform without ​prepared ​speech or ​music, making up the ​play, ​music, etc. as they ​perform it:During ​certain ​scenes of the ​play there isn’t any ​script and the ​actors just improvise (the ​dialogue).