Discussion Topic 2: The Image of The Legal Profession

All Groups write 50 - 100 words on the following topic:

What do people think of lawyers in Italy? Are they trusted and respected or are they hated and ridiculed? How are lawyers portrayed in the media? Do you think this is accurate or not?

Look at the following clips from films and T.V. programmes about lawyers, can you find any of the following stereotypes:

• a crusading human rights lawyer
• a famous criminal lawyer
• a controversial lawyer
• a sleazy, shady or crooked lawyer

Clip 1: Michael Clayton (2007) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A59RJv8SpfE

Clip 2: ...And Justice For All (1979) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sOeY6ZVG2U

Clip 3: In The Name Of The Father (1993) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBaE5msKjsA

Clip 4: The Verdict (1982) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBD6FxrtJN0

Clip 5: Boston Legal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MziHZz62peg

Clip 6: Rumpole of the Bailey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhufSDj7FSA

Have you seen any of these films/T.V. Shows? Do you think they portray lawyers realistically?

Coursework 26th – 30th October All Groups

Coursework 26th – 30th October

GPIII GROUP 9 B2.2
Tuesday 11:30 am

Classwork:
Listening strategies & practice
Modifiers
Future forms
Coursebook pp. 41 – 42

Homework:
Future Perfect & Future Continuous Grammar Bank pp. 136 -137 (3B)
Reading & Vocabulary pp. 44 – 45

GP II GROUP 18 B2+.1
Wednesday 5pm

Classwork:
Legal Systems
(for this week’s class notes go to: http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/Legal-English and click on the document called “Introduction to Legal English”)
Debate

Homework:
Self Study – Tasks & Discussion question

GPI GROUP 20 B2+.1
Thursday 11:30am

Classwork:
Listening Strategies
The Features of Fast Connected Speech

Homework:
Self Study – Tasks & Discussion question

GPIII GROUP 17 B2+.1
Thursday 5pm

Classwork:
Legal Systems
(for this week’s class notes go to: http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/Legal-English and click on the document called “Introduction to Legal English”)
Debate

Homework:
Self Study – Tasks & Discussion question

GPIII GROUP 19 B2+.2
Friday 11:30am
Classwork:
Discussion: The Image of the Legal Profession
Legal Vocabulary
Verb Patterns
Sentence Transformations

Homework:
Complete Transformation exercises.
Review & correct verb structure homework from 9/10 in light of today’s information
Self Study – Tasks & Discussion question

Discussion Question 1: All Groups.

Do you think Italy is on the verge of a constitutional crisis?

Now that the Italian Prime Minister has been stripped of his immunity, he has vowed to restructure the judiciary.

What do you think? Do the judiciary have too much power in Italy? Do you think the Prime Minister's plans are undemocratic?

Write a paragraph of 50 - 100 words stating your view. Be sure to support your argument with explanations and examples.

Self Study: Important Message For All Groups

Dear Students,

We have now completed 3 weeks of term so you should have started your self study blogs/folders/notebooks/portfolios. Remember this is worth 25% of your final grade so it's important that you do a little bit of work on it each week. I have set some tasks as homework but these are things that you should also do each week for self study. By next week, your self study work should include at least 2 or 3 of the following tasks:

VOCABULARY

Choose 8 words/phrases to learn each week and do something with them - e.g.

• write example sentences
• note their pronunciation
• note their collocations
• put them in a lexical set with words related to the same subject

GRAMMAR

Work on your tenses by analysing short articles from newspapers, magazines and the internet.

Read the text quickly and get the general idea.

Highlight the different tenses - why has the writer used these tenses and not others?

LISTENING

• Choose a film in the English language that you have already seen.
• Select a scene (about 5mins) and watch it without subtitles. Mak a note of things you don't understand.
• Watch it a second time with subtitles - note any new vocabulary or features of fast connected speech.
• Watch the same scene a third time without subtitles. Can you understand it better now?
• Write a short paragraph in your study blog/folder about the film you used, what you found difficult and what you learned from the experience. Is your listening improving? Why/Why not?

For example exercises go to: http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/Film-Lessons

WRITING

Write a response (50 - 100 words) to the Discussion Questions posted on this blog starting today.

Class Notes & Homework 19th - 23rd October 2009

GPIII Group 9 B2.2
Tuesday 20/10 11:30am

Classwork:
Reading English File 4 pp. 39 - 40
Group Discussion - The Criminal Justice System, Creative Sentencing.

Homework:
P.40 (c) - Vocabulary from Reading
P. 150 Weather vocabulary.

Self Study (see note above)

GPII Group 18 B2+1
Wednesday 21/10 5pm.

Classwork:
Understanding fast connected speech. The link between listening and grammar.
Translation exercise. (If you missed the lesson you can do it now by clicking on to the following link: http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/Sentence-Structure

Homework:
Create your own error correction checklist.
Find a copy of the phonemic chart (English sounds) and start familiarising yourself with them. The English File series of coursebooks have a useful version which includes pictures can help you remember the sounds better. Also have a look at this link: http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/try/activities/phonemic-chart

Self Study (see note above)

GPI Group 20 B2+1
Thursday 22/10 11:30am.

Classwork:
Error Correction of Essays - general feedback
Overview of the English Tense System - A copy of this lesson is available here: http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/The-English-Tense-System

Homework:
Error Correct your own Essay.
Find an article and highlight the tenses - Why has the author used the tenses they have?

Self Study (see note above)

GPIII Group 17 B2+1
Thursday 22/10 5 pm.

Classwork:
Finding the eroor in tenses - pair exercise
Fast Connected Speech - Listening & Grammar

Homework:
Try 15 minutes of listening practice using a DVD. (For instructions see notes in Self Study above)

Self Study

GPIII Group 19 B2+2
Friday 23/10 11:30 am.

Classwork:
Listening, Notetaking, Sympathising, Reading (Advanced Innovations Part 4 "The Law" pp. 24 - 26)

Homework:
Prepare question 3 p.26 - for a discussion next week on why lawyers have such a terrible image.
8 new words from today's listening (plus supporting pronunciation and structure work - e.g. lexical sets and example sentences)

Self study (see above)

ALL Groups 'Class Notes / Homework 12th to 16th October

GPI Group 20 Thursday 11:30am



Classwork

Translation exercise

Writing Criteria

Timed Writing on the Ministry of Justice



Homework

Make a note of new Legal English vocabulary and expressions. How will you remember them?



GPIII Group 19 Friday 11:30 am



Classwork

Grammar and listening, coping wirh fast connected speech.

Present Perfect

Colloquial expressions for talking about law

Listening practice.



Homework

Look at the models in exercise 4 - what do they mean?

Add the new legal words and phrases you learned today to your self study file, include example sentences.

GPIII Group 9 Tuesday 11:30am

Classwork:
English File 4 pp. 36 -38, 149
Crime Vocabulary
Passive Forms
For extra notes and explanations on the Passive go to:
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/The-Passive-Voice


Homework:
Put your 8 new words/phrases in your blog/self study folder with examples, collocations and pronunciation.
English File 4, p. 38 exercise (e), P.136 - 137 3A - Read notes and do the exercises.

GPII Group 18 Wednesday 5pm

Classwork:
Review of the English Tense System
Overview, Correction & Practice of Perfect Tenses.
For class notes go to:
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/The-English-Tense-System

Homework:
Self Study Blogs/Folders - What tenses do you need to work on?


GPIII Group 17 Thursday 5pm

Classwork:
Review of English Tense System
Overview, Correction & Practice of Perfect Tenses.
For Class notes go to:
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/The-English-Tense-System

Homework:
Find a short article in English, Read it, print it, highlight the tenses. Why has the writer used the tenses he/she has?

Class Notes & Homework 7- 9 October 2009

GP II B2+.1 Group 18 Wednesday 7/10 5pm
GPIII B2+.1 Group 17 Thursday 8/10 5pm
Classwork:

Introduction, Needs Analysis & Course Aims.
Reading: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6802599.ece
Finding legal vocabulary & collocations

Homework:
(1) Types of Errors Handout. Classify the errors and correct them.

(2) Start your study blog/folder - choose 8 new words and find example sentences, collocations and pronunciation for them.


GPI B2+.1 Group 20 Thursday 8/10 11:30am
Classwork:
Needs Analysis
How to get to C1 - Speaking Skills
1 minute speeches round robin

Homework:
Think about the questions on the handout in preparation for a writing exercise next week.

GPIII B2+.2 Group 19 Friday 9/10 11:30 am
Classwork:
Needs Analysis
Review of Tenses

Homework:
Handout - Verb Structures

Class Notes & Homework GP III Group 9 B2.2

Tuesday 6/10

Classwork: Introduction, Needs Analysis & Course Aims.
Reading: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6802599.ece
Finding legal vocabulary & collocations

Homework:
Handout - revision of English File 4
Start your study blog/folder - choose 8 new words and find example sentences, collocations and pronunciation for them.

New Legal English Dictionary

Translegal have created a Legal English Dictionary for non-native speakers.

Check it out by clicking on the link below and tell me what you think.

http://www.translegal.com/legal-english-dictionary/

Autumn Term October 2009

Hello and welcome to Sean's Study Page.

It's good to check this blog every week as I will post notices, homework and class notes on it regularly. Also check older entries for useful websites and other information.

A blog can be a good way of collecting all your notes together in a virtual space where you can always access them. If you would like to start up your own blog go to: https://www.blogger.com/start
If you need some help, here is a link to a video tutorial on creating a blog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnploFsS_tY

If you create a blog using this Blogger site you can also link it to this blog and the blogs of other students in the group.

Remember you can use a blog for your self study grade, so it's worth keeping it up to date.

If you have any questions, just let me know.

Good Luck and see you soon!
Sean