WRITING SKILL: A DESCRIPTIVE TASK

"You have seen an advertisement in an international travel magazine inviting readers to send in articles about a town they have visited. Describe a town, including things to see and do as well as information about the town's shops and nightlife"

 Would you like to take part in that contest above? Which, in your opinion, is the best writing organization? How many paragraphs? which contents should you include and which of them are not necessary?

Main sights / population and climate / shops / entertainments / train schedules / restaurants?

click on the icon to find the best text organization

ORAL SKILL: Social Networks

Here is a video to introduce the topic of SOCIAL MEDIA and how much it has affected our lives 

Source BBC learning english


And here is a POSTER with some of the most popular SOCIAL NETWORKS nowadays. What do you know about them? Which ones are mostly used today? How do you like them?



You guess right? Click on the ICON and find out about your next ORAL TASK.
 

AN INFORMATIVE ESSAY

WHAT IS IT? When you read an essay that contains factual and objective information about a topic of particular interest, that is an INFORMATIVE ESSAY.
I’m sure you can figure out that when writing an informative essay you need to inform your audience about a topic. Of course, there’s more to it than that.
You need to give your readers enough information so they fully understand what you’re writing about.

You need to assume your readers don’t know much (if anything) about your topic. This is why you’re informing them. (Makes sense, right?)

Here’s an example. Let’s say you’re into skateboarding, and you’re trying to tell a friend all about it. You can’t just start using terms like dropping in, heel-flips, and half-pipes.

You need to explain the lingo and provide enough information so your friend actually understands the words you’re using!


STRUCTURE in these essays is quite logical. Events are described in chronological order so that the reader follows the developmet easily. Every paragraph refers to a particular aspect of interest about the topic and sentences are connected by means of conjuncions or linking words.

LANGUAGE is rather neutral, standard so that everyone can understand without much effort. The AIM of the essay is to inform about a topic in particular to a wide audience. Abbreviations and jargon is avoided, same to complex grammar.

Click on the ICON for further guidelines to improve these essays: 




click on the ICON below to practice with CONNECTORS
 

REPORTED SPEECH

 Source BBC Learning English

 This is an introductory video to revise some aspects of REPORTED SPEECH. As you can imagine it is commonly used not only in GRAMMAR EXERCISES but anytime you SPEAK ENGLISH so you'd better start practising,

 the sooner the better!!

Click on the different icons according to your level and particular needs and remember PRACTICE MAKES IT BETTER!!
 
4th ESO and BTO 1

ORAL SKILL: FITNESS

FITNESS activities are much varied and motivating than before and sure there is a reason for all these new methods being introduced today.

Yoga, AeroPilates, Functional training routines, Cardio sessions, BodyPump, KettleBell workouts... you name the lot...


Here is a link to a different kind of physical activity, outdoor proposals for adrenaline junkies. Watch and find out a bit more about its benefits, risks and history behind.




Now it is your turn to do some research and elaborate a brief presentation in class about new fitness methods. Click on the icon to see some motivating pictures. Do you know any others? Go for them!!



 

And finally, here is a link to a B1 presentation about sports you can use as an example for your brief presentation in class                  (Source Marek Connell)      

GRAMMAR SKILL

 

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES are studied at different stages during your learning. Here is a doc with some further exercises for you to revise, reinforce or go a little further into your English mastery.

Remember PRACTICE makes PROGRESS.

 

WRITING SKILL

At this level you have problably been asked to write a FOR and AGAINST ESSAY on some topic of interest . You can find above a summary of the parts to include but below, you will find further guidelines to improve your writing at your pace and observing INDIVIDUALITY.

CLICK on the word and study the guidelines.





Click on the icon below and do some practice to prepare your essay.
Source British Council Learning English Teens

GRAMMAR SKILL

The PASSIVE VOICE is very frequently used in English (both oral and written language), and so English students must have a good understanding of structure and tenses.

Further to the  work in class, here are some extra activities for you to work at your own pace. Remember, practice is a must in learning a language.

 

But, PASSIVE VOICE is not only writing down exercises. Here are different VIDEO links where you can find the use of PASSIVE VOICE in real context while learning on different interesting topics. 
You may want to check understanding by doing the interactive activities after the videos (source British Council Learning English)
          

GOTHIC LITERATURE

GOTHIC LITERATURE is much more than just horror stories in dark places where impossible love made young aristocrats live isolated in abandoned mansions covered with winding climberplants suffering from a state of permanent melancholy surrounded by a bluish grey fog and listening to the deep sound of a piano...




THE MONKEY'S PAW, THE PHANTOM COACH,  THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER and THE JUDGE'S HOUSE

are short stories that belong to GOTHIC LITERATURE.

Once you've finished reading the 4 short stories, write about your favourite one pointing out why you think it is the best one, how many gothic elements can you distinguish, how is the gothic atmosphere depicted and whether you would recommend it or not.

Submit your findings and personal comment to the teacher observing the deadline settled in class.

FUTURE TENSES REVIEW

Talking about the FUTURE, expressing FUTURE PLANS and MAKING PREDICTIONS are common topics of conversation in English.

- Are you doing anything interesting this evening?
- What time will we be landing?
- When is the next train to Edinburgh?
- Are you going to ask for a new mobile at your birth day?

Here you have an ICON to review Future structures and another ICON to practice further. Make the most of this entry

MODAL VERBS

I bet you know lots of MODAL VERBS and you use them when singing or watching your favourite movie. Watch the video and find out how frequently used they are:

Now, click on the delicious icon and practice a little further:
Source bbc learning english

Then click on the word document for a summary of MODALS and uses. Remember, you must try to avoid translation and understand uses.
 

Click on the following ICON to see further grammar guidelines and exercises to practice BTO level and click on ICON 4 to practice 4th year level

GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

"George is coming to the concert with us. Did you...?
- remember to buy him a ticket?
- remember buying him a ticket?

"Ann got really mad at me and refused to see me so...
- I tried to send her flowers but still it didn't work.
- I tried sending her flowers but still it didn't work.

So which one of the 2 options is correct? Is there any difference when using one verb pattern or another?

Sure you want to know so click on the icon and do some practice.
          

WRITING SKILL

WRITING AN OPINION ESSAY

 Opinion essays are a common writing task for students because it is necessary to state your opinion and support it with sound argumentation.

Imagine you are in the middle of a discussion: "should healthcare be free?", there are different viewpoints you should try to match to their possible reasoning.

1. free healthcare is a basic human right
2. people who can afford it should pay for their treatment
3. more time and money should be spent on health education

a. people would learn to have healthier lifestyles, so fewer people would be ill
b. everyone deserves free medical treatment when they are ill
c. more money could be spent on treating those who really need it 

Click on the icon below and work on the guidelines to produce good essays with adequate paragraphs, supportive argumentation and sound closing paragraphs.

Source "Successfull Writing"

 

EXPRESSING OPINIONS

SPEAKING SKILL:




In your oral test, also in your writing task, you might be required to EXPRESS YOUR OPINION on some topic of interest so as to state your view or discuss a topic with a partner.

Here are two links to improve your performance:

Click on the listening icon: You'll hear 5 people expressing opinions on
- Global Warming
- Endangered Species
- Male and Female Intelligence
- Genetically Modified (GM) Food
- Violent Computer Games


Source: Oxford Premium
Then, click on the next icon to learn about some more tips and activities.

WRITING A NARRATIVE ESSAY

A local newspaper is holding a story competition and you have decided to enter. 

Your story should start with "I stood on the deck staring at the huge waves..."

The prize is a nice week holiday with your friends on board of a shipcruise around the Mediterranean, sure you want to win so...


TIPS TO WRITE THE BEST NARRATIVE EVER!!!

Click on the icon and read very closely the guidelines provided. Who knows?? You might end up enjoying a blue cruise with your friends.

 

WRITING LETTERS

One of the most usual writing tasks required in exams might be writing letters and mails with different purposes. 

You will always be given instructions and a clear context to know how to approach the writing because it will be different:

- a thanking letter to a friend for their invitation
- a letter requiring information about a summer camp
- a letter asking for advice about travel requirements abroad
- an informal letter announcing some good news to your distant family

Click on the icons below to find out some writing guidelines and examples specific to the LETTER FORMAT.