Merry Christmas!

I still haven't forgotten you all, and enjoy and have enjoyed the company of several of you since the exam.

I wish you all very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a very good start in the New Year!!!

Foodtalk

Well, unfortunately it seems that none of you could make it to the webcast I was taking part in.
However, luckily we have all sorts of technical possibilities and so I can give you the link to listen to it here!

Part 1


And part 2


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Foodbridges

After a great meal, prepared on a rather flat wok-like pan (oh dear, what was that strange Finnish name again?) I decided to invite you all to a discussion on the internet about food. It's being put on by a groups of teachers from Brasil, Argentina, USA and Portugal (not necessarily where they live!).

Friday, 21st Sept. at 9pm

Go to the following link: webcast academy
You will see different shows, so just click on Foodbridges using the best listening program for your computer (real player is usually pretty good).

Once the audio is running, click on 'chatroom'. There you can participate in the converstation through chat.
You won't need a password, so type the name you want seen in the chatroom and then -IMPORTANT!- choose a 'room'. We will be in Webcast Acadamy as far as I know.
There you will see the people in the chat room, and I'm sure you will be welcomed by a friendly person if I'm busy talking.

So, that was what I learned this summer! I hope to see some of you there!!!!

btw- I wanted to upload a picture, but they seem to be too big. I'll try again later.

I wish you all a great start!

The summer has literally come to an end and school is just a day away. REason enough to send you all my greetings and wish you all a great start to the new school year!!!!

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Learning English with a chicken

Now that the test is over, I have a fun way for you to practise. Do you know what all a chicken can do?
Click here to find out: subservient chicken
Just write the commands and watch the chicken carry them out. Wouldn't this be fun to do with a class? I can especially recommend fly!

Let's collect the different commands in the comments section, okay?

Have fun!!!

Life after CAE

So the exam is over. Now what? What does life after CAE look like to you?
Why don't you leave a voice message or a comment? Or, even better, add your own post?

You could also open your own blog (see video below) and keep it in English. Titus' blog is a great example! If you do start your own blog, then I'll add it to the links, where you can keep up on what others are doing, leave comments, experiment, etc.

It certainly would be great to be able to keep in touch and keep up your English at the same time :-)

Last round

GREAT LUCK TO YOU ALL!!!!!

First round done - Yeahhh!

I just wanted to put up a short message to congratulate you on completing the first and biggest half (?hm, it's not half if it's bigger, is it. So much for logic.)
Regardless of the outcome, you should already be proud of coming this far!!!
I was thinking of you all as promised :-)

Big hugs to you all!!!!

An invitation

I told you we can keep the blog alive by adding to it. You can play around and even change the template! Have a look around and experiment :-)
Sorry, Patricia, but you couldn't post because you were only a guest, but you're a real administrator now!

And if you decide to open your own blog, let us know - add it to the links.
You might also want to see Titus' excellent blog (also in the links now).

More to come!

Good Luck!!!!

http://flickr.com/photos/beccab/127949048/


The course is over and the test stands before most of you.

You have all worked hard and done your best, writing over and over, doing your homework, putting up with my blogs and springdoos. You all deserve to pass the exam and I'm sure you can do it!

Now I turn your English over to you, but I'll be here, and I hope to continue to meet many of you here too.
If you haven't yet, get a feedreader (see later post) and subscribe so you can follow what is going on here, even if there are long pauses of silence.

I've given you all the power to turn this blog into a self-sufficient language-learning / sharing forum and I hope you will help me :-). Maybe you would even be interested in starting a project with others? I'm open for all ideas! And you'll never find a cheaper English course ;-)

I'll also be adding more cool stuff to the blog, so stay tuned!

Now for the bad news. I'm terribly sorry, but I have a meeting in Zürich on the 23rd so I won't be able to be with you for br/lunch .

But here is what I'd say before any of you left for the speaking exam.

Illya says, "Take a deep breath (one that fills you lungs and stomach), put your hand on your chest to ground yourself, and then ... just do it! You'll be fine :-)"

Ideas for this week

Even though there are no lessons this week, I thought I'd give you some ideas of what you could do.

You could write a review of a film, book, etc, and put it on the blog. Then comment on what others have written about it (I'm sure you had time to do at least a little bit of reading or found time to watch a film!) Here you could specifically work on comparing, contrasting, agreeing and disagreeing. There is also a register transfer involved since the review is in a different style than the comments would be. Play around with the language, make it expressive!

Here's another idea. Some of you have already sent me youtube videos, which I gladly put on the blog (it's quite easy - just take the coding that says 'embed' and copy it into the post). Then you can write about why you chose it, maybe summarize quickly, and then the others should comment on it! (I'm still waiting for comments on my free hug video!)

You can even make a Spingdoo message and paste the link into a post in the blog.

What I'm trying to do is to stay active, communicate and help keep the blog alive!
I also hope that you will continue to use the blog even after the course is over. So many wonderful classes end and then that IS the end. It would be cgreat to keep sharing, maybe even sharing personal blogs - and it's a great way to keep up your English!

So I'll start.
I saw Pirates of the Carribean 3 with one of my sons.
It was quite fun to watch. After having read the reviews I was expecting a bore of a show, but, in fact, it was an entertaining evening.
Jack Sparrow's band of pirates has set out to save him from the end of the world with the help of a rather voodoo-istic woman with black teeth, and the help of Pirate Barbaros, against whom Jack fought in the first film (nothing personal, I guess). They need him in order to win the fight against the really evil in this world- the British Armada led by a cold-hearted man - the real villian of the film
The obscure division of personality which poor Sparrow had to endure was, depending on your point of view, full of depth and philosophy, or just simply obscure. The ending has the makings of yet another Pirates film. Who else has seen this film? How do you think it compares to the others? Was there anything you particularly liked or disliked?

Hug Day the video

Hug Day

I was sent a fitting story for the almost last lesson of our English class.

Read the story that goes with the video. Free hugs: http://www.freehugscampaign.org/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

Nearing the end

Well, the end is near and I've given over the decisions for what to do for homework to you.
I was really happy to see that a few of you recorded yourself and I will give anyone else who wants to give it a try extensive feedback. Since this is also new to me, you might get it in different ways.

And if you have wishes for the last two lessons, leave a comment on the blog or send me an e-mail!

Here are some ideas for homework:

• Work in the course and workbook
• Work in the exam book (I'll try to find material to work with outside the exam book, but we will do all the listening tests left in class)
• Practice speaking by recording yourself and then send it to me.
• E-mail me and organize a time to skype for further speaking practice
• go to the splendid speaking podcast http://splendidspeaking.podomatic.com/ and listen
• go to flo-joe http://www.flo-joe.com/cae/students/index.htm and do exercises there
• do a writing task and send it to me

And now a bit of fun!

By the way - doy ou speak English?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG03joaqrcc

Speaking

Since several of you would like to practice the speaking by way of Springdoo, here are a couple of tasks from the book.



For part 2 - picture C8:

Compare and contrast 2 or 3 of these situations, saying what significance the flowers might have for the people concerned.



The second question to the other person would be: Who do you think has taken the most care in choosing their flowers?



Picture C10:

Compare and contrast 2 or 3 of these pictures, saing what the people might be observing, and why.



Second short question: Who do you think is shoing the most interest in what they are observing?



Remember to hypothisise on what you see!



Also listen in to Splendid Speaking

You will get more than a few models. The speakers are doing tasks similar to that on the CAE and there are comments about their good points and what needs improvement. Note the second newest topic: speculating and hypothisising.



And don't forget flo-joe for exam practice. There you will also find flo-joe radio - which deals specifically with the exam.



Now here comes the next challenge - anyone willing to try Skype? This could be a valuable extra bit of practice with others.

It's easy to download and you don't need a camera - just a microphone is enough. Let me know if you want to try and we can arrange a time.

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summary of 1. May lesson

Hi everyone
Here's a great video for you from Regina (she didn't make it, she just sent me the link ;-) )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-t7JFb8DhA


While I'm here, I might as well add the homework from Tuesday.
We looked at teh english in Use parts 2 and 6.

Part 2 - that's the one where there are 'little' grammatical words missing, such as articles, prepositions, linking words, reference words, etc. You need to skim the text to get an idea of the content first. Then you need to read the entire sentence where there is a gap. Sometimes you even need to read more. After reading the wole sentence, you should have an idea of the necessary word. Try the exam book exam 3.

Part 6- This is similar to the reading task 2. You need to use the textual structure as well as the content to figure out which phrase or clause goes where. Begin again with skimming to find out what it is about.
First, look at the possibilities and decide which are phrases and which are clauses
- a clause has a verb, generally with an accompanying subject. You can usually make a sentence out of it
- a phrase doesn't have a sentence-like structure and cannot stand alone
So read through the possibilities and define them as clause or phrase, then read the text again and define whether a clause or phrase would be most appropriate. This will limit your choice. The rest is related to the context, so read the whole thing through one more time to make sure it makes sense!
You can also try this in exam 3 in the exam book.

Speaking - a couple of people have already tried springdoo (see last blog post), and now I'm trying to figure out where I put that thing :-/
Here is some advice for part 2 - focus on the situation, remember the task and integrate it into the targeting of the pictures you are talking about.

More homework was to finish unit 11. Also look at the writing from the exam. Can you improve on it in any way? Feel free to send it to me again if you make any changes. I'm convinced that you will profit from re-drafting.

So, I hope the video shows up. Any comments?

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voice e-mail

Hi everyone
Last time I told you about a program to practice speaking. It's called Springdoo and is very easy to do. Having said that, I have to admit that you haven't heard one from me because I'm having problems sending them (my computer, not the program) - NOT making them, though!
But now I have one for you:
http://www.springdoo.com/M1FAD490ECF892701A

It's very simple to send it by e-mail, but as you can see, you can also send the link to people :-)

Greetings
Illya

Best wishes from Oxford

Hello my dears



I hope you all enjoyed your Easter Holiday. I think the weather wasn't too

bad!!!  ;-) 



I have now been studying English in Oxford  for almost three weeks and I

feel very confident. Teachers at school are quite funny and full of

energy. I learn a lot of new vocabulary but unfortunately I still have

difficulties to bring all of them in my active language! I try to do my

best!



Oxford is a lovely town with lots to see. I also had the possibility  to

go to Stonhenge and Bath on a weekend trip, which was very interesting.



I' m really happy having time to improve my language skills far away from

the daily grind! In addition to this,  I try to unwind and get a new burst

of life!



I hope to see you soon!



Best wishes



Eveline

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Summary April 25, 2007

Well, we started once again, but for those who couldn't come, you missed out on chocolate! No, no one spoke English, it was just to make everyone happy :-) (it was dark chocolate!)



Then, with a happy smile on everyone's face, we did the listen test. For those who couldn't make it, I'll try to arrange for a room to take it in.



We also looked at English in Use part 1. Here is some advice for dealing with this task (as preparation - NOT for use during the exam)

1. Look at each set and find what the words have in common, e.g. form and meaning
2. Go back and decide how the words differ from each other, also taking word collocation into consideration
3. Look at the text, reading entire paragraphs, and consider which word fits the context best

homework: Exam book test 3 - English in Use 1, you can also do the one in test 4 if you want more practice, and then there is flo-joe!



We also went over the speaking. Look at C5 in the middle of the exam book.

The task is to compare and contrast the pictures, saying how important it is to be accurate and what could happen if the people in the picture aren't accurate.



We went over this picture together, looking at how one could start, by comparing or contrasting, and then possibilites for the other two parts of the task.

Ideas: Both pictures show someone talking to other people.

          This situation is very formal, but the other picture is less formal.

          If she is not clear, it can have major consequences, but if he makes a mistake, or if they don't understand, he can show them and help them understand.



----For those that were in the class - could you add more as comments???



Homework: Look at C7 and C9. Prepare to describe these pictures in class. Especially concentrate on possible language, of comparing and contrasting, hypothesis, cause and result, etc.



You can also send me a springdoo message (voice e-mail) which is very easy to do, and you can benefit from having a very concise comment!



More homework: Unit 11, see especially the reading task and grammar -inversion (pp 142-144)

Writing- either the proposal in unit 11 or another writing task from the exam you did during the holiday.

Could you also send me your results if you haven't already?



Next week: speaking!  writing (yours from the exam) and more E. in U.



If you have any other wishes, please let me know :-)



Greetings!

Illya

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Summary 27th March 2007

Summary 27th March 2007
Live your multiple lives…
We had a fuss about this topic…if you want to read something about it, look at Illya’s blog in November 2006, there is a contribution from MM about Brave New World.
In this lesson, there were three learning objectives:
• Different ways of rewrite sentences with the same meaning
• Listening part 1 + 2
• English in use part 3 (unnecessary words)
Straight to business, we started in the coursebook (cb) on p.133 with the Participle clauses, which shorten the sentence. There is a reference in cb on p. 223.
Listening part 1 + 2
We listened to the test 1 (in the exam book) part 1+2, p.25,26
Note
Before listening: read through quickly, than predict the type of words (noun, adj., verb)
After listening: look out for spelling mistakes and check the verb forms

English in use part 3 (looking for extra words)
Useful tips for doing this: look out for grammatical words (preposition, linking words, adverbs, …) and family members, time yourself!
We got two additional exercises to practise.

Homework
• copy (English in use part 3); the key is on the blog
• additional worksheet of past exams
• exam book: feel free doing exam 1+ 2
• optional: to end unit 10 in cb + wb
• good website for further practice: www.flo-joe.com

Enjoy Easter time and perk your ears up!
Have a fruitful holiday in piece and quiet

Written by MM

(Comment from Illya-
Don't forget flo-joe radio
and splendid speaking )

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Summary 20 March 2007

We started this snowy Tuesday with a song we listened to. But it wasn’t an English song so we didn’t have to listen to the text; it was more important to write down what kind of thoughts and impressions the song evokes.

In this lesson, there were two main points to be looked at in detail:

• reading part 3
• English in use part 3

The reading text (copy) was about a special museum in Edinburgh. Firstly, we practised our reading skills; above all, we should get used to skim the text. We skimmed it within two minutes. After that, we discussed the following questions without looking at the text any more: Who? What? When? Why? … Secondly, we read only the questions and marked the appropriate sections accordingly. Lastly, we answered the questions. After finishing that we compared our answers. And we found out, that it was very important to read carefully and between the lines to find the correct answers.

For practising the English in use we also got a copy. Before completing it we resumed what kind of errors can be found in the text:

• capitalization (an american writer ==> an American writer)
• quotation marks
• commas (after relative clauses / linking words like ‘however,’ )
• apostrophes (it’s ==> its / student’s ==> students)
• double letters (jewelery ==> jewellery)
• vowels (correspondance ==> correspondence)

Afterwards, we searched for the errors and corrected them. We got two additional exercises to practise. Before doing the listening in the course book (p. 135) we discussed about our dream house and our relation to our neighbours.

Homework

• copy (English in use part 3); the solutions will be on the blog
• exam book: exam 3, reading part 3, English in use part 3
• course book: 135 – 137 and 139
• optional: create a grid (e.g. to occur / occurrence / … ) and complete it
  

Enjoy the rest of the week and the snow ;-)!

Summary of an “angry” lesson 13.03.07

As the lessons starting topic we learnt how to express different forms of anger. Firstly, we wanted to find out “What really gets our (your) goat?“ and we discussed if it might be music that sooths our (your) savage beast?

Afterwards, we had to find out more vocabulary of anger and made a rating for its intensity.

+++ go berserk

blow a fuse

lose one’s temper

blow his top

sudden outburst of temper

let off steam

++ fly into a rage

become irate

get your goat

get cross

makes you irritable

+ get worked up

We heard a listening about “road rage” and other negative expressions. The listening can be read in the tape script on p.233. Beneath you’ll find some “rage expressions”:

air rage / trolley rage / surf rage / movie rage / dot.com rage / revenge rage.

After so many expressions I can only ask: “Aren’t these expressions all the rage”?

On page 120 we compared and contrasted different anger situations.

After the break we let the anger behind us and worked on register transfer and rewording. Each writing has its personal character and a special type of vocabulary is used in it. Writings can not only be formal or informal but personal, neutral, informative, well structured, emotional or factual. They can be written in passive clause or in the imperative to support the things that are expressed in the writing.

Homework:

- reword memo

- EB – test 3 – E in U part 5 pg. 74

- WB unit 9 – including writing

- CB pg. 128 (prepare to describe your house / rooms)

- CB pg. 129 E in U

- CB pg. 131 reading part 3

By Alexandra Zinner

Why walking? Ride on your Daddy's back!

This invention allows children, to ride on their daddy's back. It is a type of belt with two stirrups. So the child can stand in the stirrups and hold his father at the shoulder. This is comfort way to transport your youngsters: no dramas during longer walks, provided that you are in a good shape.

Swiss Shower

Here's a picture of a Swiss Shower: Illya, you were right! I wonder why they call it Swiss Shower, I am a Swiss and I have never heard about that before! Maybe the woman is enjoying cow milk - we don't know exactely if it's water or milk ...

For more details: http://www.h-e-a-t.com/shower.htm

Summary, 6 March 2007

At the beginning of the lesson Illya checked the money and made sure that everything was all right. Then she started with a song. We worked in the exam book at test 3, Paper 1, Part 4. First we had to skim the text. Then we had to find synonyms for difficult words. In groups we wrote them down. Finally, another group had to read our synonyms and find the original one in the text. Furthermore, we built a data bank for word forms. That’s useful for the exam. We took a small text and looked for words. Then we filled them in our data bank.

To finish the data bank an online dictionary or the word formation list on the back of our exercise book can be helpful. This is a good training for the use of English. At the end we read a text about Edinburgh in our course book and made suggestions which destination we would prefer to go to.
Here some beginnings for suggestions /discussions

· I’d like to…
· I’d prefer… and so
· Why don’t we go…
· If you want to… then you definitely have to
· My main reason is…
· But if we only have…
· But just imagine
· My first choice is…
· You can see that anywhere…
· They’ve not interesting
· What I would enjoy most is…



Homework:
· Complete unit 9 (Cours book+ Exercise book)
· Writing: pg. 117 a Brochures (have a look at pg. 199)
· Exam Book: Test 3 Reading, Part 4 (as quickly as possible);
Test 3 English in use, Part 4
· (Exam Book: Test one and two for free)

Have a nice week, Patricia

The Motorized Ice Cream Cone

Now for the quickly coming summer a new invention is out and sure to cool you down!
It is the great motorized ice cream cone. This device automatically turns the cone for you so that the ice cream can be easily licked. No more drips!!! And the ice cream keeps it enticingly round throughout your culinary enjoyment. Available for cones and bowls.
Let ice cream cones become your clean and tasty method of cooling down this summer. Get them while they're hot!

(sorry, I just couldn't resist temptation ;-) )

Hijacker Invention

This invention could be used in planes.
The seat of each traveller is eqquipped with alie detector.
Before the plane takes off every passenger is asked some questions about his or her intention to fly in that plane.
If the detector finds out that the person is lying when the question about hijacking the plane is asked, the injector underneath the seat gets activated and injects a sleeping serum into the passenger's leg.
In the case that the passenger would answer the question about hijacking with "yes", the injection would be injected in the leg as well.
While the alarm bells are ringing the presumed hijacker can be easily imprisoned by the police.

By Alexandra Zinner

Knee Skates

Have you ever seen knee skates which are the latest actual patent in the USA? You can go for Knee Skating solo or with friends. Use a sloping road with more or less no traffic on it.

Fix the pair of Knee Skates tightly around your leg with two straps. You’ll knee on two boards wearing pants with softened pads. Each board is supported by four easily rolling wheels. The front wheels are extremely flexible and respond very fast. Therefore you guide easily the board with the sticks connected to those wheels. Both hands hold a stick. For changing direction on the road you have to move only both sticks in the same direction.

As an additional equipment you put over your regular sized shoes stiff metal boots. With those boots you can steadily slow down your speed.

To prevent any head injuries use a helmet.

Have fun and enjoy the new outdoor excitement!

By Brigitte Ryser

The Hair Machine

What I see on this picture is a Hair-producer Machine. It seems really to be a patented invention. I suppose that it is a little bit strange but perhaps it can resolve all kinds of problems like grey or white hair, loss of hair or bald head.

There are three moving parts in the middle of the machine. Two of them look like gears. All three parts are connected with elastic bands, whose function is to make them turn like a little carousel. There is also a form of a recipient which could enclose the motor.

What I find amazing is that the machine has four little feet. When it works, out come delicately, several hairs.

Finally, you can compose each one together and in this way you have a new-hair product.

Phenomenal, isn’t it?

By Mascia Zemp

Important Postscriptum

I forgot one very important fact for my summary of the last Tuesday: Instead of the 3rd April we will have lessons the 5th June!

Marie-Theres

The Flying Turtle

The Flying Turtle – The only thing which saves your life

Are you fed up with all sorts of painful injuries you suffer from after a hard tour on your motorbike? If you can answer my question with ‘yes’ you’ve got to buy the Flying Turtle immediately. You’ll never be hurt seriously any more!

It's like a second skin on your body: You put this kind of jacket on when riding your motorbike and now you’re safe against all sorts of accidents. As soon as you crash into a car, for example, the jacket blows itself up like a balloon, you fly over the vehicle like a bird and land smoothly and unhurt on your back on the ground. If your motorbike isn’t damaged you can mount it and go on riding … Try it and tell your friends about it!

written by Nicole

THE GADGET YOU WILL NEED FOR PASSING THE CAE SUCCESSFULLY

New on the market, just in time for all who’d like to take the CAE in June is this new invention by Esolex Aminations.

What for the most of the participants always is the biggest problem during the preparation for the exam is the time to practice the lots of tasks they have to - in peace and quiet. Esolex Aminations’ new invention enables you to do this wherever and whenever you like. All you need is to find a space of less than a square meter and the silky PastpaPersBag with its integrated armtable.

What you now have to do is fix the sticks for the armtable, open the zip of the PastpaPersBag, get into the bag, sit down comfortably relaxing your arms on the table, closing the zip and focussing on your English. You will be enclosed in a silky cloud and feel sitting in seventh heaven and it’s this feeling that makes you thinking that you easily will pass the exam.

Now it’s up to you to buy or not to buy PastpaPersBag.

Marie-Theres

more doggie umbrella

Gadgets.in - Online gadget Shop|New Gadget| - A Doggie Umbrella – Keeps Your Dog Dry In The Rain

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The Doggie Umbrella

The new experience for your dog.

Imagine it’s a cold rainy day and you’re walking without a raincoat and even without an umbrella. You’re wet till your bones and you’ve cold. You catch a cold and two days later your nose is running. Your dog feels the same uncomfortable feelings as you do.
However, for a dry walking even if it’s raining we invented a doggie umbrella.

The dog, which is carrying his umbrella by itself, feels comfortable and absolutely satisfied. The umbrella is fixed round its body (watch the picture). The umbrella is out of a transparent rain material that your dog is able to see something. Furthermore we put eight hols in the front that your dog can smell.
This umbrella is available in different transparent colours. What is fantastic for your dog is that the weigh of this umbrella is so low that he hardly remarks it. Moreover, we have different size for small to big dogs. Buy a Doggie Umbrella it will make you and your dog happy.

Written by Patricia

ALARM FORK

ALARM FORK

In a luxury restaurant called Future Life I was served a mysterious alarm fork. At the beginning I had no idea what it is good for. So I took it and tried to stick it in a potato. Immediately, a deafening alarm was set off: “HOT, HOT, HOT,” the fork yelled. A bit embarrassed about the fuss I was causing, I checked if other people in the restaurant had observed my accident.

There were two buttons on the fork. What I wanted to know was what will happen when I press the red one. As soon as I had touched it, the fork began to blink and a choir was singing : “WATCH YOUR WEIGHT, EAT LOW CALORIE FOOD AND ENJOY FITNESS.” People around me curiously turned their heads and began to guess about my body mass index. I desperately tried to switch this stupid alarm off but the more I pressed the bottom, the more often the slogan was repeated. Suddenly, the red button began to blink and a loud accusing voice said: “ THE FORK RECOGNIZES THAT YOUR PALMS ARE DIRTY. PLEASE WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE EATING. OTHERWISE INFECTIONS CAN BE SPREAD.” Deeply ashamed I threw the fork onto the table. Stupidly it landed between my potatoes and with it shouting “HOT, HOT, HOT,” I furiously ran out of the restaurant straight ahead to the next McDonald.

Written by Regina Steiner

After the Carnival Break

Because I have got a nice flu I haven’t been able to sit in front of a computer until today. I hope, I can still remember all the things between the lines of my notes.

First I will remind all participants of the course of

- writing the description of the invention and put it on the blog or send it to Illya (read page 115 in the coursebook before you start)
- finishing unit 8 and starting unit 9 (page 112-114) in the coursebook
- finishing unit 8 in the workbook (writing task included!)

The lesson was focussed on the speaking task of the exam. Illya told us to be prepared for this exam part with useful vocabulary and expressions we are able to use fluently, to use at least one idiom or fixed phrase and to use at least three different tenses during the speaking. It’s easy, isn’t it? We should also show that we are active listeners, that we come in interaction during the first part of the speaking…. but I’m afraid I mix it up now rather unstructured. Illya, can you maybe explain it again?
Illya gave us tips how to practise the speaking part. The internet tools she showed us we find on the blog. We can also prepare with the pictures in the books by looking at the pictures and trying to find out, what kind of questions could be asked.

From now on we will often work with the past papers book, don’t forget it at home!

See you

Marie-Theres

Internet tools - speaking

HI everyone
As promised, here are the sites where you can practice your speaking, but first, my little musical boy with his piano teacher playing ... you guessed it! Jingle Bells!!!

If you want to talk using the internet, you can download skype and from there you can either arrange to talk to each other (or me!) or to go to EFL bridges
You can read what it's about here (we are 1 hour after gmt time).

You can listen to others speaking and hear a commentary about it at advanced level at Splendid Speaking
It's run by the same person who runs flo-joe radio. And as I mentioned before, if you are interested in being on the podcast, I'll gladly put you in contact. You will get excellent support with the technological side and it would certainly be a good experience for your own speaking skills.

But maybe the first place to start is with springdoo
This is the easiest way to go, but communication is only one way. If you want, you can send me a springdoo message and
I'll treat it like a written text - analysing, correcting and giving you advice. A cheap microphone runs at about 20 Franks.
Have I convinced you yet?

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Hello from Bournemouth

Hello everybody

I hope you had all relaxing and sunny carneval holidays.

I enjoy my stay here in Bournemouth (South of England).

I visited interesting places like Stonehenge, Salisbury and the New Forest

and last weekend I went to London.

Actually, the weather is not as good as in Switzerland, but I can say that yesterday

we had a sunny day without any clouds.

After my lessons at school, I often go to the towncentre, which is lovely.

When the wind is not terrible (extremely cold and strong) I also go for a walk to the beach.

Finally, I wish you a good time and enjoy Illya's lessons!

See you in two weeks!

Valentina

A visitor

I made this post to show a neighbor how to make a blog post. I've removed the text, but I thought the picture was cute, so I've left it on.
Does this picture remind you of anything, e.g. from your childhood?
Leave a comment and let us know.
Greetings :-)

Water is Life

That water is the key to get out of poverty and famine couldn’t better be shown than by the journey I made through the breathtaking scenery of hills and mountains, plateaus and gorges of Ethiopia. During the rainy season the water would wash the soil down the mountains and leave the bare rocks, if people weren’t struggling with erosion and soil conservation. Stone by stone are they terracing the hills to keep water and soil, building check-dams in the valleys to recover fertile land and plant trees, bushes, cactuses, crops, vegetables and food for goats and cattle. Irrigation systems, constructed by the village people in years of work, help provide arid areas with water.

The better supply of water is most important for the women. It decreases their work load enormously, because it’s traditionally women’s work to get water from the water points. It makes a big difference whether you walk 6 to 10 kilometres to get water or you can go to the water point half a kilometre from your village… Clean water reduces the infant mortality, hygiene awareness improves health generally.

When water can save your livelihood, you can hope for a (better) future. Education is essential. Schools have to be in walking distance to the villages (what means up to 2 hours one way!), so that girls and boys regularly can go to their classes. The pupils are hopeful and have dreams of becoming pilots, doctors or artists.

I met many dedicated people, determined to improve the development of their country. They have already reached great success by comparison with the previous state, but there is still so much to do and there are so many “ifs” like impacts of politic and religious peace or effects of change in climate. These people are aware how delicate the balance of the system is and they try carefully to achieve their aims step by step.

Goodies!

I mentioned that you should take a look at the blog for some goodies. Well, here is the first one!



Let me know what you think!

I'm also re-posting a comment from Dorothea, since it might otherwise go lost to you.
I'm sure she would appreciate a response :-)

Greetings from Seattle to all you students in Illya's CAE class. I periodically check the site to see where you are in your studies. As we say in English, you are in the home stretch. Try not to stress out. Dorothea

Finally, I know how easy it can be to forget to look at the blog. I'm a bit late with this information, but there is a simply way to be informed if there are any new entries.
http://www.feedblitz.com/
You can easily sign up (it's free!) and add this blog url or any other you happen to be following. Then, whenever there's a new entry, you will get an e-mail.
This is extremely easy and practical if you have just a few blogs you want to follow and aren't otherwise swamped in e-mails.
I'll show you another possibility later.

well, I think I've given you enough to do for now - more later !

enjoy :-)

Summary for 6th February

We had a musical beginning with depth - thank you Anita

I also mentioned, and would like to stress it again here, that you need vocabulary - phrases and word collocations, to be successful in the CAE. That's why it's so important to comb through texts and look for common phrases, interesting expressions, etc. The grammar can be found in the use of vocabulary. Use the vocabulary correctly and you are more than half-way there.



Then we did a listening test.



THe homework is first, to do the reading and English in Use parts of the exam I handed out. You also need to decide if you feel you will be able to take the exam in June. You can contact me if you aren't sure.



The other half of the homework is to do unit 8 - The modern world.

We will look at it after the break, but especially look at the vocabulary (in the back too!) and the writing is in this unit.



Enjoy yourselves and relax.

You deserve it!

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Summary 30th January 2007

Our lesson started with relaxing music: Just listening to the impressive voice of  Nora Joans. Full of energy we went on with the speaking we done the week before. But before we practised Illya crossed two words on the white board which we shouldn’t use at the exam:

Comment from Illya - I actually crossed them out to force you to  expand the phrases you use. Practice them now, and don't worry about them at the exam. With enough practice a variety of phrases should come naturally :-)

I think and In my opinion. Those words were fine for the First exam but not anymore for our exam. Therefore we looked for substitutes:

I would say…

My point of view…

I believe that…

I regard this as…

The picture suggests that…

This certainly is/ isn’t…

It could be…

It is clear that…

It’s clearly a…

It’s obvious…

 

Finally, we practised whilst listener 1 was looking for the content and listener 2 checked carefully the language and the interaction. After the feedback we headed for the reading on
pg 88. First we read all the questions and afterward only gap A. Our target was to answer the questions which belong to gap A. (Everybody is allowed to do the remaining questions as homework.)

Further one we trained the listening, the part of Multiple choice. One advice: Read first the question and make notes during listening. This important matter we realized we have generally to improve!

At the very end of the evening we had a short look at multiple-choice cloze, where it’s difficult to give tips: Just look at collocations.

As Feeling good is the main target at Unit 7  we got encouraged by Illya to compose a leaflet for a Fitness studio or a wellness Salon for stressed teachers. As a little addition: Just finish Unit 7 and stay healthy whilst learning all the medical expressions.

 

SUMMARY

Hello dears!

First I am sorry that I did not put it on the blog earlier. It is quite a busy time at PHZ and school as well.

What have we done last Tuesday?!

We spoke about speaking ;-)

Two of each group had to do a speaking part and the others had to observe them. There are three areas which you should not forget: interaction, language and content.

But the most important point is; do not lose your words…talk talk talk. Further you have to have a conversation and not only a single speech.

What was more? We heard an amusing experience about hypnotism. Eveline give us a great example to refuse any holiday animate programmes which include hypnotism. Thanks for sharing that experience with us!

So dear English group.. I wish you a nice week end and don’t forget your homework!

See you in fortnight.

Eva

Test: Change to the new blog

Hello everybody

it took me two or three attempts to get my new account in google blogger. But now it works.

Instead of writing a nice text, I decided to post a Limerick: Who knows it by heart till next Tuesday?

A flea and a fly in a flue
Were caught, so what could they do?
Said the fly,"Let us flee."
"Let us fly," said the flea.
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.
(anonymous)

Summary 16.01.07

Another week has gone by in the new year and once again I'll write the summary.
We looked at the writing tasks and compared the different 'bands'.
Important: include all contents points
use expected language
use appropriate format
WRITE:
Who is the reader
Register
Information required
Text type (format)
Edit

The passive was looked it.
Jokes got laughed at.
It was thought that jokes are hard to tell.
My hope is to bring the passive closer in all its forms.

Homework to be done: Passives in unit 6, worksheet and WB; Vocab. pg. 75; writing-either correction or WB pg 47-49; word transformation (incl. word flowers) WB pg. 49


And now for a couple of links (sorry - a bit late!):

A Reading Text
This one is good for practice in reading quickly.

OWL - online writing lab
A writing and grammar practice site.

Cambridge Dictionary
Online

And now my homework is done ;-)

Greetings from Cambridge

What do we usually know about Cambridge? Of course, that there is an University, which sets the norm for the CAE.

Cambridge people are very proud of their University and its reputation indeed. And they love the various colleges and their now famous former fellows: Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton and Oliver Cromwell are only a few names of them. The about thirty, partly huge, colleges set the atmosphere of the centre of this town, sometimes I feel like being in a Harry Potter film.

But there are real people as well. My slightly eccentric host family and Charles the cat, more or less boring teachers, interested classmates, very friendly bus drivers, talkative guards and people sitting in a tea shop, chatting.

What I never had expected from Cambridge is that it is a cycling city. Cycle lanes and signs everywhere. I have hired a bicycle on my very first day here and have taken the great challenge: Driving on the left-hand side. Each crossroads is a new brain gym. Which side I should look first on? But I have read that breaking the routine has a positive impact on ones brain ;-)!

What do we usually not know about Cambridge? In Cambridge was the first official football pitch ever drawn and here have been written down the official football rules for the first time as well. I’m sure, that’s why Cambridge is still well known…

Regards from Britain

Marie-Theres

Half time! -time for questions?

Well everyone
You have 15 weeks behind you and 15 weeks left. Time flies when you're having fun ;-)
We looked at the exam last tuesday and will continue next Tuesday.

Since I know that often questions don't come up when they're supposed to, but right before bed, I'd like you to place questions, wishes, etc as comments to this post.

I always get an e-mail when someone writes, so I'll be sure to read them and take them seriously!!

Oh, and it might be nice for Dorothea to hear from you again. Feel free to leave a post directed to her, but let me know if you have problems, because the program was updated.
That's it for now:-)