Tenses!

Don't forget to work on your tenses - both your range and accuracy. Use the chart below to help you but remember that in English - CONTEXT IS GOD!

Click on the image to expand. 

Keep Up With Your English

If you were unable to make it to your tutorial, please send me an email and I will send your results and feedback back to you.

Remember to keep up your English over the summer - a little bit often is the way to improve. If you are looking for advice, explanations and exercises have a look at my website Sean's English Classroom. You could also listen to my radio show "Small Talk" available on Youtube. The following programme was aired on 18/03/13 and gives advice on how to learn phrasal verbs as well as talking about David Bowie's new album, The Next Day.

"Small Talk" Courtesy of Radio Stella Città 101.2 FM

Good Luck with your exams and see you in September.
Sean.

For more episodes of Small Talk go to the Radio Stella Città channel on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/RSC101e2?feature=watch

SPI Group 9 B2+1

Remember to email me within the next week and I will send you back your results.
If you don't have a blog or have not yet shown me your self study, you also need to include this in your email. Remember that Self Study is worth 25% of your final grade so could mean the difference between passing or failing this module.

This is especially important if you found today's test difficult, or you felt you were unprepared. Don't just wait for your bad result and expect to fail. Think about where you went wrong. Revisit the areas you found difficult - in your notes, in the text book or on the internet and write about this in your email.
For a detailed explanation of what your self study should include click on this link.

Please make sure you send your emails to me by next Monday (20th May).

SPI Group 4 B2+2: Self Study Is Your Last Chance.

It was a little disappointing to reach the end of the course and find that a few students did not know what was required of them or how their final grade would be assessed. Going up to the next level does not depend on sitting an exam but on how you performed over the 4 components that were made clear to you during the term:

• Essay
• Presentation
• Progress Test (today)
• Self Study

Each component is worth 25%, so if you don't do one of them you are seriously reducing your chances of passing the course.

It was also clear that some of you had not been keeping up to date by following this blog. As I have made clear many times this term, you have to take responsibility for your own progress and if you are away it is up to YOU to catch up with the work missed. With the University frequently cancelling lessons at the last minute this term, it was even more important to keep up to date by regularly checking the Study Blog.

Similarly a few of you still seem to be confused about self study. As mentioned above, it is worth 25% of your final grade - so it could mean the difference between passing or failing - especially if your performance today - in the test, the presentation or both - was poor.

Rather than wait for your bad result and expect to fail, you could instead be proactive about your situation and do something about it. I will be accepting written self study summaries via email until 20th May. Think about where you went wrong this term. Revisit the areas you found difficult - in your notes, in the text book or on the internet and write about it in your email to me. For notes on what you self study should include click on this link.

You have one week left to make a difference.

Grammar - What Is It Good For?

Grammar

Read the article and join the debate.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/12/bad-grammar-debate-gove-higson-letts?CMP=twt_gu

GPIV Legal English Group 5

Lesson 9 
10th May 11:30am

Class:

1. Writing Assessment - Letter of Advice
2. Speaking Assessment - Negotiation Role-play - Dispute Resolution

If you were absent today: 

1. Using the material from last week (Facts and Law) Choose one of the parties (Gainsborough Construction or Deep Blue Pools) and write a letter of advice to your client. Remember your client doesn't want too much detail about the law, though you do need to support your advice with reasons. You also need to advise your client on their rights and obligations, the options open to them and the advantages and disadvantages of each option - not just whether you think they would be successful if the case went to trial. You should spend no more than 40 minutes on this task and write about 250 words.
2. Imagine that your client now wants you to negotiate a settlement with the other side. Write some notes in preparation for your negotiation. You should include: 

• Your client's aim(s) and your strategy for the negotiation
• The strengths and weaknesses of your client's case
• Your client's BATNA
• The Agenda for the negotiation (topics and the order you want to raise them, type of interaction etc.) See: http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/41183559/Negotiations%20-%20Advanced%20Features for notes on planning. 

You may either email your work to me or bring in a copy to your tutorial next week. 

Homework and Preparation For Our Last Lesson 17/05/13

Instead of a 2 1/4 hour group lesson, next week you will have an individual tutorial with me lasting about 10 minutes. Come along at 11:30am as usual, sign up for an interview slot and then come back at your allotted time. You may leave when you have finished your tutorial. 

The tutorial will consist of two parts:

1. Interview/Presentation

Imagine you have been asked to interview for an internship position at a prestigious European law firm. As part of your interview they would like you to give a short (5 minutes) presentation about an area of law you are interested in, saying why you think this will be important in the future. 

2. Feedback/Reflection

The second part of the tutorial will focus on your progress during this course, your strengths and weaknesses and your final grade. It is also your opportunity to ask questions. In order to get the most out of your tutorial, think about the following questions and come prepared to discuss them: 

• What have you learnt this semester?
• What areas have you improved?
• What areas do you still need to improve on?
• How are you going to improve your English when the course is finished?

What should I do if I can't attend next Friday?

Even if you can't come in person next week, it is still important to submit the final assessments and get some personal feedback on your progress. 

We can either do this orally via Skype or Voxopop (please email me first to arrange a time and organise the details) or in written form via email. If you choose to use email, please write a short covering letter instead of preparing a presentation.You should spend about 40 minutes on this task and write about 250 words. For some advice on covering letters, see the following link: http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/47733197/Getting%20A%20Law%20Job 

As well as the letter also include a couple of paragraphs reflecting on your progress this term, answering the suggested questions above. When I receive your letter and feedback, I will email back your results.

Please bear in mind that I have to submit your final grades to the British Council by Tuesday 21st May, so all tutorials (either written or oral) must be completed before then. 

GPII Group 11 B2+1

Organisation for next week's tutorial.

11:30 am 
Francesco Gentili & Giorgia Vernia - Progress Test
Simone Sciannimanico & Giorgia Vernia - Speaking Assessment
Feedback will be given on the speaking assessment immediately. 

12:00 Midday.
Start time for everyone else. Sign up for an interview slot and then come back at your allotted time. 

Check the notes and blog posts for your self study requirements and how to prepare for your tutorial.

Somebody left behind their copy of the Language Leader Advanced Student book. It was left by someone sitting in the back row. I have it with me and can give it back to you in the tutorial next week. 

ECII Group 1 Module B2+1

Organisation for final lesson 15/05/2013

2:30 pm
Start time for students who still have to sit the progress test (Mario) or give a presentation (Isabella, Luisa, Chiara, Carolina T., Vittorio, Valentina V.) Feedback and results will be given at the end of the presentations.

3:30pm
Start time for everyone else. Sign up for an interview slot and then come back at your allotted time.

Check the notes and blog posts for your self study requirements and how to prepare for your tutorial.

Preparing for your Tutorial - Important Notes for ALL LUISS Groups

The course isn't over with the test. There is still one more, very important lesson to go and the attitude, insights and work you present during your private tutorial could mean the difference between you going on to the next module or repeating the course again. For example, imagine you sit the progress test this week and you are not happy. You find it too hard or you feel you are unprepared. Don't just wait for your bad result and expect to fail. Think about where you went wrong. Revisit the areas you found difficult - in your notes, in the text book or on the internet and come prepared to talk about this in your tutorial. Your teacher can help you - especially if you are the kind of student who has difficulty doing or preparing for written tests.


You can also prepare for your tutorial next week by thinking about the following questions:

• What have you learnt this semester?
• What areas have you improved?
• What areas do you still need to improve on?
• How are you going to improve your English when the course is finished?

The tutorial is your last chance to hand in or do any course work for final marking (e.g. essays, reports, presentations, speaking assessments or progress tests). You will also be asked to present your self study blog/folder/notebook and talk about the ways you have tried to improve your English independently this term.

Important Notice For All Students - Final Lessons

Dear Students,

We are nearly at the end of the term so make sure you are up to date with all your assessments, coursework and self study. Remember you must have attended at least 70% of lessons to be eligible for credits for this course.

Please check the timetable for your final lessons:

Course	2nd to Last Week	Final Week
SPI B2+ Module 2	Guest Speaker Lesson cancelled	Monday 13th May 2pm Progress Test Tutorial Remaining Presentations
SPI B2+ Module 1	Guest Speaker Lesson Cancelled	Monday 13th May 4:30pm Progress Test Tutorial Remaining Speaking Assessments
GPII B2+ Module 2	Tuesday 7th May 5pm Progress Test	Tuesday 14th  May 5pm Tutorials Remaining Presentations and Progress Tests
GPI B1.2	Wednesday 8th May 11:30am Progress Test	Wednesday 15th May 11:30am Tutorials Remaining Presentations and Progress Tests
ECII B2+ Module 1	Wednesday 8th May 2:30pm Progress Test	Wednesday 15th May 2:30pm Tutorials Remaining Presentations and Progress Tests
GPII B2+ Module 2	Thursday 9th May 11:30am Progress Test	Thursday 16th May 11:30am Progress Test Tutorial Remaining Speaking Assessments
GPIV Legal English	Friday 10th May 11:30am Letters of Advice - Writing Assessment Dispute Resolution Negotiation – Speaking Assessment	Friday 17th May 11:30am Interview/Presentation Tutorial

Please be punctual for your test. The listening question will be done first, so if you are not seated by the time the lesson is scheduled to start, you will be asked to wait outside until the audio has finished. Students who are late will not be given an opportunity to listen to the audio at the end. 

On your test day remember to bring with you all your self study material, as I will grade this while you are doing the test. For notes on self study please refer to the link below:
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/63767935/Self%20Study

Remember that with some effort over these last two weeks, you can turn your grades around. Remember to look at your group's last blog post for more information on the content of the test.
Please contact me, if you have any questions.

Good luck,
Sean.

GPIV Group 5 Legal English

Lesson 8
3rd May 11:30am

Giving Advice Role-play
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/59757708/Giving%20Advice

Company Law Key Vocabulary
Corporate Governance http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Corporate+governance
Proxy Fight
Merger
Consolidation
(remember the difference between merger and consolidation http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_merger_and_consolidation)
To file an action/lawsuit
To allege http://www.thefreedictionary.com/allege
To prevail
To warrant
To second guess

Letter of Advice - Outline

1. Referring to the subject matter
2. Summarising Facts + Disclaimer
3. Summarising Facts/Identifying Legal Issue
4. Referring to relevant legislation/regulations/previous court decisions
5. Drawing Conclusions

Writing Letters of advice - language and Structure
International Legal English Unit 2 p. 28 - 31

Introduction to Contract Law Case Study
Discussion of facts
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/55588522/Contract%20Law%20Case%20Study

Homework
Next week we will do 2 practical assessments based on the facts that we discussed today - writing a letter of advice to a client and then trying to negotiate a settlement for their dispute. I will tell you which party you are representing next week. In the meantime go to the link above and read Part Two - The Law. These are the legal authorities we will be using for the purposes of this exercise. Make notes on which authorities (cases, statutes etc) favour or go against the respective parties.

GPII Group 11 B2+1

Lesson 9
2nd May 11:30 am

Class
Juvenile Justice Unit 9.2 p. 92 - 93
Justice/Penal System Vocabulary & Discussion
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/41721142/Suggested%20Answers%20-%20Speaking
Speaking Assessment: Interactive Task and Individual Long Turn

Running Order
12:40  Francesco A. & Maria Ida
12:45  Cecilia & Giulia
12:50  Eleonora & Marta
12:55  Simone F. & Teresa
1:00    Francesco S.G. & Flavio
1:05    Giacomo & Marco
1:10    Fabio & Angelino
1:15    Mariasole & Lorenzo
1:20    Salvo & Angela & Chiara

You may leave after your turn.

If you were absent today, then you must complete your speaking assessment in the last lesson on 16th May. This speaking assessment is worth 25% of your final grade. 

Home:

1. Adverbs of Degree: Do the exercises on p. 93, Q. 9a/b/c using the audioscript on p.184 to find the examples. Also read the notes on p. 150 and the exercises on 151. THERE WILL BE A QUESTION ON ADVERBS OF DEGREE IN THE TEST.
2. Revision: During next week's lesson (9th May) you will sit a progress test . The test will include 2 skills tasks - reading and listening as well as grammar and vocabulary questions from Units 1, 2, 9.2 & 9.4 of the book. The best way to revise is to do something, so rather than just read over your notes, do the relevant exercises in the workbook (if you have it) or the review sections on pages 36, 37,135, 137 & 151  concentrating on the Key Language and Vocabulary tasks. Remember that all your preparation for the test also counts towards your self study, so keep a record of what you do.