Sean
EXERCISE
15 years ago
Sunday, 21 December 2014
Merry Christmas
Sean
Saturday, 20 December 2014
Post CPE - Special Video Lesson
Lesson 11
Note the use of malapropisms for example when Kim says she's ravishing (very beautiful, enchanting) when she really means she is hungry - a mistaken combination of famished and ravenous.
Holiday Project
Choose a film that you like and that you think could help you with your English. Write a brief blog post or review (not a plot summary!) about it then analyse a short (3 - 5 minute scene). What are the language (grammar/vocabulary) or pronunciation features you notice? Pay particular attention to idioms, slang, accent, intonation and fast connected speech. In our first lesson after the holidays (10th January) we will discuss your findings.
- Using film & video http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/11442630/Film%20Lessons
- Kath & Kim Accents, Australian English, Slang http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/11442641/Kath%20And%20Kim
Holiday Project
Choose a film that you like and that you think could help you with your English. Write a brief blog post or review (not a plot summary!) about it then analyse a short (3 - 5 minute scene). What are the language (grammar/vocabulary) or pronunciation features you notice? Pay particular attention to idioms, slang, accent, intonation and fast connected speech. In our first lesson after the holidays (10th January) we will discuss your findings.
Saturday, 13 December 2014
Post CPE Group Lesson 10 - Bumper Christmas Edition
Lesson 10
- Idioms: For today's examples & a link to the article discussing their etymology see: http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/90347408/Idioms
- Discussion: Christmas in literature, film and song. For more examples of yuletide tunes have a look at this blogpost http://scarybradshaw.blogspot.it/2014/12/scary-bradshaws-musical-advent-calendar.html or go to my spotify playlist spotify:user:11142496185:playlist:7Cbt7FfPwVG11btvZvVlqt
- Writing feedback and register/vocabulary exercise.
Pronunciation
Going Further:
(1) On Kermode & Mayo's Film Review this week listen out for a listener's question regarding watching films on trains (1:27 - 1:29) followed by Mark's review of the documentary Merchants of Doubt in which he uses today's idiom sleight of hand several times.
(2) Throwing Shade is one of the terms used in Paris Is Burning, Jennie Livingstone's documentary on Harlem's drag balls of the late 80's.
(3) If you are interested in idioms and their etymology, have a look at Michael Quinion's book POSH Port Out Starboard Home and Other Language Myths (Penguin 2004) in which he explodes some language myths like posh - which first appeared in Punch Magazine in 1918 and did not refer to cabins on P&O ships travelling from Britain to India. (Sorry Bruce).
(3) If you are interested in idioms and their etymology, have a look at Michael Quinion's book POSH Port Out Starboard Home and Other Language Myths (Penguin 2004) in which he explodes some language myths like posh - which first appeared in Punch Magazine in 1918 and did not refer to cabins on P&O ships travelling from Britain to India. (Sorry Bruce).
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Post CPE Group - Feedback On Writing
I have now had a chance to look over the writing exercise from last Saturday. While I intend to give individual feedback in the next lesson, I thought I would take the opportunity to make some general comments and observations now.
- All the letters were clearly structured and contained a good range of vocabulary including a natural use of fixed phrases and collocations
- Verb Structure: There are some persistent errors with verb structure, so this is an area of grammar that we need to review in the new year. E.g. Intend to do something/have the intention of doing something, prevent someone from doing something
- Vocabulary - Word Choice: Start exploring connotation and register when choosing your words. Several of you used uncivil when describing rude or bad mannered behaviour. Did you intend to be that restrained in your criticism?
- Vocabulary - Verb/Noun + Preposition Collocations: Think of these as fixed phrases rather than little bits of grammar. to be in the limelight, a threat to someone/something, to be pregnant with her first child
- Sentence construction and style: Work on developing a lean, succinct style of writing - eliminate repetitive or redundant words, "throat clearing"phrases and get straight to the point. Think about your use of discourse markers and how you could join clauses and phrases without using conjunctions.
Saturday, 6 December 2014
Post CPE Lesson 9
Lesson 9
- Discussion - Film Reviewers: Mark Kermode, Roger Ebert, Pauline Kael.
- Recommended Films: The Prestige, Memento, Boyhood, The Hours, Life In A Day
- Pet Peeves: New Vocabulary plight, conductor, validate your ticket, curb, chill out, chillax
- Letters To The Editor - Mobile Phone Use
- Writing Exercise
Corrections
- I noticed quite a few mistakes today with negative prefixes - especially the overuse of 'un' instead of incorrect, impolite, inappropriate.
- Verb suffixes: vari
ate→ vary - Verb structure: make someone reason
ing→ make someone reason - Countable/Uncountable: Money
areis never enough
Homework
Next week's discussion is on how Christmas is presented in popular art and literature. What books, short stories, films or songs about Christmas are particularly resonant for you? Here are some suggestions to get you thinking:
Auggie Wren's Christmas Story by Paul Auster from the film Smoke (Wayne Wang 1995)
A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz (Bill Melendez 1965)
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote (Frank Perry, 1966)
The Fairytale of New York by The Pogues & Kirsty McCall (1987)
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