Our Learning Space

Monday, May 14, 2012

This Week's Politics

Francois Hollande, president-elect of France

Why "left"? Why "right"? Find out here.

This Week's Listening NA1

If you did not receive the answers for Listening CD 5 by email, please let me know.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Some Advice for NA1

Make sure you can distinguish between a formal and an informal writing style.

Can you write:

an email / a letter to a friend?
an email / letter to an unknown person?
an article?
a composition to express your opinion?
a report?

Look carefully at the example writing tasks in our textbook and the work that you've sent me throughout the academic year (both written and oral). What were you mistakes? Why did you make them? How can you improve upon them?

It would be very useful to read the post on the "teacher-detective" on this blog. Scroll down to find it.

This Week's Sporting Moment

Olympic Games flame lit in Greece. You can find out more here.

Ths Week's Culture Corner

What makes the British tick? (What makes them think and behave as they do.) Find out here.

Source: Oxford University Press

Thursday, May 10, 2012

¿Qué busca un profesor-detective en una tarea escrita?

tratamiento total y desarrollo amplio de cada punto del contenido
adaptación adecuada a las convenciones organizativas propias del texto
organización eficaz, bien punctuada, unida y coherente, con una gran variedad de conectores
léxico muy rico y variado
gramática correcta, variada y propia de nivel
registro adecuado al propósito de la tarea y del destinatario
ortografía correcta

Writing Exam NB2 - Some Advice

There are two tasks. In the first task, you are asked to write about 60 - 80 words; the maximum mark is 4 points. In the second task, you have to write between 100 - 130 words. The maximum mark here is 6 points. The exam lasts 70 minutes. You must write in black or blue ink. (Not pencil.)

You must have a total of at least 5 points to pass this paper.

Here are some questions to help you revise.

Can you write:

a note?
an informal email / letter to a friend?
a formal email / letter to an unknown person?

Can you talk about:

yourself?
your work / studies?
your family and friends?
your interests?
your holidays?
your city / town?
your future plans?

Can you:

make suggestions?
ask for suggestions?
give advice?
offer to help?
compare and contrast?
give opinions?
talk about what you like / don't like?
ask for permission?
agree / disagree?
explain?
apologise?
thank somebody?
invite?

Can you correctly use:

linkers? (First of all, . . . , Secondly, . . . , Lastly . . . ; However, while, so, because, though . . ;)
interesting expressions? (Nowadays, Actually, Another factor to take into account is . . . )

Do you know the characteristics of:

notes: (informal language, friendly register, contracted verb forms - I'll see you later)
emails: (To . . . From . . . Subject . . . )
letters: (Where do I put my address? Where do I put the date? Where do I put my name? If it's a formal letter, where do I put the name and the address of the person I'm writing to?)

When do we say:

Dear Sir / Madam
Dear Mrs Jones
Yours faithfully
Yours sincerely
Best wishes
Love
Kisses
I look forward to hearing from you
I'm looking forward to hearing from you
Write soon!

Tip: look carefully at all of the written work you have done. What mistakes did you make? Why? What is the correct form? Also, check the feedback from your oral tasks. What grammar mistakes did you make there? What is the correct form? Check the Reading and Writing Portfolios at the back of the workbook that we've done, too.