Week Beginning Monday 16th January

This Week's Homework

NB2A: Workbook and CD Rom Lesson 4D; irregular verbs; revise worksheet on present perfect; Workbook Page 77 (71) letter to a friend about a film you've seen recently for Friday 20th. Revise vocabulary and grammar of Units 4 and 1 for next Monday; revise vocabulary and grammar of Units 2 and 3 for next Wednesday.

NB2C: Worksheet, "Are you a telly addict?"Section 4b and c. Workbook Page 77. Lesson 4D in your workbook and on the CD Rom; Ex 1 - 5 of the new Listening exercises. (CD 3).

NA1: Make sure you have done Grammar Bank P138 - 139 Ex 4B and 4C; read SB Page 57 and do the exercises; do "past modals" (4B) on our supplementary handout on Unit 4; Think about your St Valentine's Poem for next Monday; SB P65 section c is for Friday 10th February.

This Week's Topic

Stacks of books

In our NB2 classes, we've been looking at the theme of television. One suggestion was that we should turn off our TV and go and do something more interesting instead, like reading. When was the last time you visited your local library? Did it look anything like this?

This Week's Grammar

It's important to know how to ask questions correctly. The Marc Chagall College Interactive Book is an excellent resource. Click here. (You have to click on the coloured tabs on the right-hand side to turn the pages.) There is also a very, very good site for learning vocabulary. You can access it here.

Revised Exam Timetable

A young boffin looks forward to his exams

NA1
Monday 30th January: Writing. 105 minutes.
Wednesday 1st February: Reading. 90 minutes.
Monday 6th January: Listening. 45 minutes. Oral. 20 minutes.
Wednesday 8th and Monday 13th February: Oral. 20 minutes.
Wednesay 15th February: class as usual.

NB2A
Monday 30th January: Writing. Reading. Listening.
Wednesday 1st February: Orals.
Monday 6th: Orals.
Wednesday 8th onwards: class as usual.

NB2C
Friday 27th January: Writing. Reading. Listening.
Tuesday 31st January: Orals.
Thursday 2nd February: Orals.
Tuesday 7th February onwards: class as usual.

Notes:
These exams are to help you progress in your English studies.
The timetable may change at the last moment so consult your blog regularly.
The oral exam consists of two tasks: a monologue and a dialogue.
The written exam also consists of two tasks.
The reading and listening exams consist of three tasks.
I'll publish some guidelines for you on our blog soon.

This Week's Idiom

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy is a proverb. It means that without time off from work, people become boring and tired. Indeed, the video below shows that even birds like to have fun now and again.

Week Beginning Monday 9th January

This Week's Travel

Manu Cloud Forest, Peru

In our Advanced class, we listened to a documentary about 4 people who went travelling in the Amazon forest of Bolivia. Here is a collection of articles by Guardian readers about their life-changing trips. Have you had any similar experiences?

This Week's Advice

Sometimes, the things that are worth having in life don't come easy, so we simply have to persevere.  Ask Willow.

This Week's Words in the News

Kim Jung-un, the new leader of North Korea

Learn some interesting vocabulary by listening to and reading this article about Kim Jung-un.

This Week's Homework

NB2C: CD 2. Listening exercises 10 - 14.  Irregular verbs. Oral presentation.  Read The New Zealand File and do the activities. Do Workbook "Reading and Writing Portfolio 4" Page 77 (P 71) Ex 8 and 9 for Friday 20th January.

NB2A: Complete Listening excercises for Monday. Irregular verbs. Oral Presentation. New Zealand.
Do Workbook Pages 76 - 77 (70 - 71) Reading and Writing Portfolio 4: "Film Reviews." Ex 1 - 8 for this Friday. Do P 77 Ex 9 for Friday 20th January.

NA1: Oral presentation. Read Dolphin Music and do the activities. Prepare SB P 52 - 53 Ex 1 a, b, c, d, e and f. Pages 138 - 139 Ex 4a. Student's Book Page 65 Sections a and b. Section c is for Friday 10th February.