Post CPE Lesson 9

Current Affairs - Listening & Discussion

1. The Debate On Air Strikes On Syria
Listening: Yesterday in Parliament
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p039yj3m

to be a party to (something)
to make a case for
to set out the case for
to heed the call
to back (action/a person/candidate/proposal)
to stack up/hold up
ill thought out
fractious, fidgety sombre mood
ayes/nos
Parliament, parliamentary, parliamentarian

Reaction to Hilary Benn's Speech
https://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/hilary-benns-speech-930
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/03/syria-debate-hilary-benn-launches-shock-and-awe-campaign-against-labour

2. Controversial Beauty Contests (13:39)
3. Inward Investment (17:59)
Listening: The World This Week 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p038p42f
For more downloads go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0299wgd/episodes/downloads

to pack your frocks (dresses)
suzerainty versus sovereignty

to have a tin ear to (public opinion)
to get a deal done
OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Recommended Viewing
In cinemas next week is Me & Earl & the Dying Girl (inexplicably translated as Quel fantastico peggior anno della mia vita in Italian).

E.U. Commission Writing Course - Holiday Work

As we will not be meeting again until 7th January, here are some suggestions for keeping up your English over the Christmas period.

One of the best ways of picking up new vocabulary and noticing structures is through listening. BBC Radio 4 has a wealth of material which you can download or listen to on iPlayer.
See  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01m28zh and http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01hqw0p for European themed programmes. You can urn this into a writing exercise by taking notes while you listen and then writing them up into a brief summary.

Next year we will look at discourse markers and how to link and structure your writing more effectively both at paragraph and sentence level. To get a heads up on this, take a look at the notes http://esl.about.com/cs/advanced/a/a_dmark.htm and exercises https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/advanced/a_grammar/file01/nef_int_grammar_1_01a?cc=us&selLanguage=en here.

Have a Merry Christmas and see you in 2016.

Sean

D'Amico Shipping B1 Lesson 4

Class
(1) Pronunciation skills - using the phonemic chart
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/apps/sounds-right
Hidden names task
Vowel sounds
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/11442648/Pronunciation

(2) Using songs
Fixed expressions
Let me know, take a chance on something, take your time, to feel down, get something off your mind, to put something/someone to the test

Legal English at Bennett Languages, Civitavecchia: Lesson 7

Class

Legal principles
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/70392439/10%20Key%20Legal%20Principles

Conditionals in context
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/11442621/Conditionals

The Third Conditional - exploring the link between grammar, listening and fast connected speech.
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/32174148/Conditionals%20and%20Pronunciation

Going Further/Holiday Homework

1) Listening:

The best way for you to stop your English from getting rusty over the break is to do regular listening practice. Use the Law In Action series of podcasts or anything else you find interesting (BBC Radio 4 has a wide selection available to download or listen to via iPlayer). It doesn't matter if you don't understand everything and you can still do it even if you don't have a lot of time. 10 minutes, 4 times a week, for example, is both doable and extremely helpful. 

2) Presentations:

Next year I would like to get your talking about your own areas of interest and expertise. Therefore I would like you to choose an area of law that you either practice or find interesting. Start doing some reading about the topic (in English) and when we resume classes in the new year, we will look at how you can transform this information into a successful presentation.

Pronunciation
Check that you have the correct pronunciation by clicking on the following and listening to the dictionary app.
parliamentary sovereignty
judicial 
judiciary
senator

Corrections
It's told said/says here that judges should ...
The two parts parties
sentence/judgment
Parliament can do make any kind of law
lose miss the train

D'Amico Shipping B2 Lesson 4

Class

Business and economics - discussion and word pairs

(Taken from Language Leader Advanced (Pearson) unit 11, p. 112

Vocabulary

Brand recognition/brand awareness

Business (countable) = company

Business (uncountable) = commercial activity

To make redundancies/to make someone redundant = to cut the number of staff for economic reasons.

Commonly confused words

Lend/borrow

Can you lend me some money?

Can I borrow some money (from you)?

I lent John some money.

John borrowed some money from me.

Debt/loan

I have to pay off my student loan.

I have a lot of credit card debt.

Error correction

Since now x

From now

Homework

Finish your example sentences for today's vocabulary.

Going further - keeping up your English during the break.

The most effective way to prevent your English from getting rusty is to make sure you get regular listening paractice. It doesn't need to be a lot but it does need to be often. Look at previous posts for recommended websites and podcasts. On the follwing link you will find a suggested procedure for using dvds to help with your listening. http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/11442630/Film%20Lessons
Here you will also find specific film lessons (e.g. Annie Hall, Silver Linings Playbook)

If you are interested in the story behind Apple, check out the film, Steve Jobs, which is coming soon to a cinema near you. 

British Council at ANIA C1 & C2 Lesson 26

Group 5 C2
12:30 pm

Class
CPE Reading & Use of English - timed practice parts 1 - 6

Homework
Complete part 7 - give yourself a maximum of 25 minutes to complete the task

Answer Key
Click on image to enlarge

Group 7 C1
2:00 pm
Class
Verb Patterns - verb followed by -ing or infinitive with a change in meaning.
Check the worksheet below for a copy of today's tasks and more exercises
Click on the image to enlarge.

British Council at ANIA Group 6 B1.2

Class
Today's material was taken from New Language Leader (2014, Pearson) unit 4.1 p. 37 and Unit 10.1 p. 96 - 97

• phrasal verbs to do with language learning
• language learning discussion
• phrasal verbs in context - take off

verb (adverb)
(transitive) to remove or discard (a garment)
(intransitive) (of an aircraft) to become airborne
(informal) to set out or cause to set out on a journey   ⇒  ■ they took off for Spain
(transitive) (of a disease) to prove fatal to; kill
(transitive) (informal) to mimic or imitate, especially in an amusing or satirical manner

(intransitive) (informal) to become successful or popular, especially suddenly

• Trends - discussion

Homework

Trends - p. 97 reading & vocabulary exercises. 

Post CPE Lesson 8

Class
(1) Reading & Discussion - In the news this week.
(the videos discussed in today's articles are available on the links below)

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/26/donald-trump-mock-new-york-times-reporter-disability

http://www.theguardian.com/media/mediamonkeyblog/2015/nov/26/katie-hopkins-brunel-university-students-turn-backs-video

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/22/why-job-interviews-are-pointless

(2) Collocation multiple choice and open cloze
Gold p.144
Exercise 1
1B, 2D, 3C, 4A, 5C, 6A, 7D, 8C, 9B, 10D, 11D, 12B
Exercise 2
The qualities for an air traffic controller - i.e. personal qualities, not training or experience are:
To think quickly, good anticipation, aggressive, confident personality, handle stress very well.
Exercise 3 - Use of English
1. Against/the, 2. To, 3. Could/might, 4. Stand, 5. Every/each, 6. Does, 7. Say, 8. But, 9. Less,
10. Chance/opportunity, 11. Without, 12. However, 13. Getting, 14. Tell, 15. Myself.

Corrections
make ask some questions
when it comes to hire hiring someone (to here is a preposition and therefore followed by a gerund)
when I think to about
the job I applied to for
Pronunciation
negligible 
ideology /aI/
Vocabulary 
to (take) care of  - protective or supervisory control
to care for  - to provide physical needs, help, or comfort (for)
to care for/about - to have regard, affection, or consideration (for)
to apologise (verb), apology (noun)

Homework
Look at the material I gave you today on verb structure. Look at the examples and questions on reporting verbs and impersonal report structures. How could you incorporate these into the summary you wrote last week?

E.U. Commission Writing Course - Lesson 9

Lesson 9
Thursday 26th November 2015

Class
1. Impersonal report structures
2. Clemency for Snowden?
Discussion and summary writing exercise
http://dailysignal.com/2015/10/30/the-european-parliament-is-wrong-on-edward-snowden-and-national-security/
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/10/european-parliament-edward-snowden/413257/
Write a brief summary of the opposing views in the above articles.

D'Amico Shipping B1 Lesson 3

Lesson 3
Thursday 26/11/2015

Class
Vocabulary Strategies
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/41184334/Vocabulary
8 Things you could do - an example: 
(1) Legal write the word down, check the spelling
(2) (adjective) note the part of speech
(3) Pronunciation

legal (ˈliːɡəl   ) 

Note and practise the pronunciation - especially vowel sounds and where the stress falls. Listen to the word here. Is your pronunciation the same?
(4) Legalise (Leagalize U.S.), Legality, Legally - note the suffixes it takes to create other forms
(5) Illegal - note prefixes to change the meaning (or an antonym)
(6) (i) Related to law/the legal profession (ii) Within the law/lawful - note meanings in English or a synonym so you can explain it if you forget it.
(7) Legal English, legal representative, legal document c.f. law firm  - Collocations
(8) (i) A passport is a legal document. (ii) The judge ruled that the transfer of shares was legal.   Write example sentences that reinforce the meaning and remind you of the structure.

Homework
Download an phonemic chart and bring it along to class next week. If you can't find an interactive one for your tablet or phone, print off a copy of the version below (click on the image to see it in full) or one with the same layout.

Legal English at Bennett Languages, Civitavecchia: Lesson 6

Lesson 6

Class

Consumer Rights

Conditionals Overview

http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/11442621/Conditionals

Corrections
unpolite impolite
What I told said before.

Pronunciation
Purchase
Item

Vocabulary
cooling off period
quibble (noun and verb)
to factor in
O.F.T. - Office of Fair Trading

Going further
Read the following notes and exercises. 

http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/32379905/Hypothetical%20versus%20Open%20Conditionals
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/42354161/A%20Comparison%20between%20Italian%20and%20English%20Conditional%20Forms
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/77337743/Conditionals%20In%20Song

D'Amico Shipping B2 Lesson 3

Class

The importance of intonation

Exercise - intonation directions

Homework

Reading - Driverless Cars

Link: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/sep/13/self-driving-cars-bmw-google-2020-driving

Discussion:

1. What is a backseat driver? What are his/her characteristics?
2. Do you think you would ever consider buying a driverless car?
3. If you were in a driverless car, what things would you be most concerned about?
4. Do you think you are a better driver than a computer would be?
5. Do you think driverless cars could be used on the roads along side regular  cars?
6. When a completely autonomous car causes an accident, do you think the owner of the car or the manufacturer should be held responsible? 
7. Who would you be more likely to buy a(n autonomous) car from: Google or BMW?

Now scan through the article and compare your views with the results of a recent survey on driverless cars. 

Vocabulary:

Where would you find the following on a car?

gear stick/shift, bumper, bodywork, steering wheel, brakes, windshield

Reading:

1. Has the article changed your mind about driverless cars? Why/Why not?
2. What is the main drawback for companies such as BMW and Mercedes?
3. What is the difference in approach between BMW and Google?
4. What is the main shortcoming of the Google bubble car?
5. What is the main difference in opinion between technology companies and car manufacturers regarding the potential of driverless cars? 

Style:

Find the following expressions in the text:

to move with the times, to take on a life of its own, to turn over in your mind/head

How does the author modify them to add humour and interest to the article? 

Going Further

1) For more notes on pronunciation in general and intonation in particular go to: 

http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/11442648/Pronunciation

2) Viewing/listening practice

• Acorn Antiques from The Victoria Wood Show 1982

In this spoof of a typical British soap opera, the actress makes a mistake with her intonation on the line:
"What is it? Muesli."
Why do the audience laugh?

• Namaste 

What does this sketch tell you about fast connected speech in English?

• The Conversation (1974) 

Although winning the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and being nominated for 3 Academy Awards, Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation was somewhat overshadowed by the director's other release that year - The Godfather Part II. However, The Conversation has endured as a bona fide classic and one of the best American films ever made. What's more, Coppola's slow burning thriller about a surveillance expert (Gene Hackman, giving one of his finest performances) who realises that his recordings may have murderous consequences, is even more relevant today as CCTV surveillance and internet privacy are once again causing considerable concern the world over. For students of English the film of particular interest as it highlights the importance of intonation. The film's mystery hinges on one line of recorded dialogue - and where the stress falls in the sentence.

"He'd kill us if he got the chance" turns out to be very different from "He'd kill us if he got the chance"as the lead character finds out too late.

The British Council at ANIA C1 & C2. Lesson 25

Group 5 C2

12:30pm

Class

1) Free speaking - Thought Experiments

Nature the Artist

The Pappadom Paradox

Pre-Emptive Justice

For other responses to these experiments see:

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2005/aug/01/philosophy

2) CPE Writing feedback

Homework Corrections

Collocation exercises from Gold p.144

Exercise 1

1B, 2D, 3C, 4A, 5C, 6A, 7D, 8C, 9B, 10D, 11D, 12B

Exercise 2 

The qualities for an air traffic controller - i.e. personal qualities, not training or experience are:

To think quickly, good anticipation, aggressive, confident personality, handle stress very well.

Exercise 3 - Use of English

1. Against/the, 2. To, 3. Could/might, 4. Stand, 5. Every/each, 6. Does, 7. Say, 8. But, 9. Less, 

10. Chance/opportunity, 11. Without, 12. However, 13. Getting, 14. Tell, 15. Myself. 

Homework

Finish the summary on Brexit.

Group 7 C1

2:00pm

Class

1) Free speaking - Thought Experiment - Nature the Artist http://www.theguardian.com/books/2005/aug/01/philosophy

2) Listening - Identifying verb structures Language Leader Advanced p. 83

Homework

Verb patterns G1 pp. 148 - 149 read notes and do the extra practice exercises.

Corrections

Think to x

Think about

Quite always x

Almost always

Fed up by x

Fed up with

Sick to hear x

Sick of hearing

Vocabulary

Fiction or programme? 

Painting,

Rope, 

Nails,

Make an offer

Flavour of the month

Pronunciation

Choose /u:z/
Chosen 

ˈtʃəʊzən

/

The British Council at ANIA - Group 6 B1.2

Class
Pronunciation - voiced and unvoiced consonants /t/ /d/ and /s/ and /z/
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/11442648/Pronunciation
Vocabulary strategies
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/41184334/Vocabulary

Homework
Reading 4c and phrasal verb vocabulary exercise 6a from the photocopy.

Post CPE Lesson 7

Class
1. Discussion - The Terrorism Threat
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/21/brussels-put-on-high-alert-as-belgian-authorities-warn-attack-imminent
2. Clemency for Snowden?
Discussion and summary writing exercise
http://dailysignal.com/2015/10/30/the-european-parliament-is-wrong-on-edward-snowden-and-national-security/
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/10/european-parliament-edward-snowden/413257/
Write a brief summary of the opposing views in the above articles and then add your own opinion.

Vocabulary
flippant
see also flip - a flip remark
to tempt fate
break the law
breach security
breach a contract

Corrections
to have a surgery

Homework
Collocation multiple choice and open close exercises from Gold p. 144

E.U. Commission Writing Course - Lesson 8

Class

1. Verb structure
2. Patterns following reporting verbs

Homework

1. Finish the exercises on the photocopy.
2. For more notes and exercises on verb structure see: http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/25080022/Verb%20Structure
3. Reading:  Following on from our discussion about the effect of technology on our working lives and work/life balance you might be interested in reading this article from The Observer earlier this year. http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jan/18/modern-world-bad-for-brain-daniel-j-levitin-organized-mind-information-overload
4. Listening: An entertaining podcast on journalistic "sources" and how the news is "cooked". http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06npkft

D'Amico Shipping B1 Course - Lesson 2

Class

Pronunciation and grammar - the problem of fast connected speech
Grammar dictation
Identifying the features of fast connected speech

• elision
• weak forms
• intrusive sounds

What made the following sentences difficult to understand? Which words were stressed? What happened to the words that weren't stressed? 

N.b. The phrasing and order of the examples are slightly different to today's exercise. 

1) Who were you waiting for? Past continuous for an action of duration in the past.

2) He sold the flat last year. Past simple to describe a completed action at a stated time in the past

3) He's sold his flat so he's living with his parents at the moment. A recent past event that explains a current temporary situation.

4) They found some money in the street.

5) We like the hotel.

6) They'd been waiting for ages before he arrived. Past perfect continuous to describe an action of duration in the past that happened before another action in the past. 

7) I've failed my driving test. Present perfect smple to describe a recent action in the past that has a relevant effect now (i.e. I don't have a licence and therefore I can't drive).

8) She's enjoying her new job. Present Continuous for a current situation but restricting it to the present moment.

9) We washed the car on Sunday. Completed action in the past.

10) We wash the car on Sundays. Present simple to describe habitual/regular action.

11) She cycled home.

12) How are you hoping to get there? Present Continuous to describe your hopes at a present moment. 

Homework

Download the Sounds Right App http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/apps/sounds-right

More notes about pronunciation and fast connected speech. http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/11442648/Pronunciation

Legal English at Bennett Languages, Civitavecchia. Lesson 5

Class
Amending & modifying a law  - listening, useful phrases and free speaking practice

Balancing an argument

Having said that

I see what you're saying, but...

Although, whilst

That may be so, but...
That's all fair enough
Admittedly
Certainly

Checking Understanding
Do you know/see what I mean?
Do you see/get my point?

Agreeing/disagreeing
I couldn't agree more
I agree with you up to a point
I'm sorry/I'm afraid I don't see it that way

Legal Systems

The characteristics of Civil and Common Law systems

Verb + preposition, adjective + preposition collocations

http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/78307961/Legal%20Systems

Pronunciation
punish  /^/
precedent /s/
crime /ai/
criminal /I/
based /t/
decreased /t/

New Vocabulary
surcharge
provisions
section, subsection comma
flick knife switchblade (U.S.)
favourite (noun)
to favour (verb)

Homework
Think of 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages for both Civil Law and Common Law systems.

D'Amico Shipping B2 Lesson 2

Class

Grammar dictation.

The link between grammar and pronunciation.

What were the problem areas when listening to the sentences below? Were these problems caused by grammar, vocabulary or the features of fast connected speech?

1) He's veen studying Political Science for 6 years. Present perfect continuous

2) He's had that apartment since he started that job. Present perfect simple

3) By the time we got to the hotel the conference had finished. Past simple & past perfect simple.

4) He hadn't come to the office so he didn't know which file to take. Past perfect simple & past simple

5) He was going to take the train but he changed his mind at the last minute. Future plans in the past

6) I stopped to do the shopping on the way home.  Stop + infinitive to show reason for stopping something else. 

7) I stopped going to the gym because the membership is too expensive. Stop + gerund to show which activity was stopped.

8) I'm used to having all my work done by the end of the day. To be + adjective + preposition + gerund to talk about a situation you are now accustomed to.

8) I used to have all my work done by the end of the day but I don't anymore. Used (past tense verb) + infinitive to talk about a past habit. 

He sold his car last week.

He's sold his car so he's walking to work now.

In the above sentences it is the context, not the pronunciation which tells you what the tense is. 

Homework

Listening Practice

Choose a short text to listen to. Listen a couple of times to understand the context then listen again for tenses or verb structures. Do they sound like you expected they would?

Listening Sources

English Central http://www.englishcentral.com/videos#/browse-app?goal=3&browseType=course&difficulty=ADVANCED

BBC Radio 4 http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4

Ted.com http://www.ted.com

Youtube https://www.youtube.com

Going Further

Pronunciation - http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/11442648/Pronunciation

To BEC or Not to BEC?

The main point that came out of today's discussion was that most people felt that they did not have the necessary time needed to prepare for the exam but felt that a course aimed at BEC Vantage would be useful nonetheless. Whether you do the exam (and when you do it) is a personal choice and we can discuss your options throughout the course and in the final tutorial. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or queries regarding either the course or the exam.

The British Council at ANIA C2 & C1 - Lesson 24

Group 5 C2

12:30 pm

Class

Skills

Listening for gist, note-taking and summarising skills.

Task (to be finished for homework and handed in next lesson)

Based on your notes from the listening, write a 250 word essay summarising the main arguments regarding Great Britain's renegotiation with the E.U.

Listening texts:

Yesterday in Parliament (whole podcast) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p037qblk

What The Paper's Say 8/11/2015 ( from 4:15 where they talk about Theresa May and Michael Deakin's satirical take on the German response to the renegotiation) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06npkft

Law In Action (from 15:10 - 20:44 for the interview with Dr Silvia de Mars on the legal implications of a possible Brexit). http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06np61n

Vocabulary

Thin gruel

Pig in a poke

To give/get the thumbs up/down

To tinker around (with)

To bang the drum

To look at plans in the round

To pay lip service to something

To twig (= to suddenly realise)

To put your cards on the table

Catch-22 

Language Training

Homework

Collocation (from Gold p. 144)

Going further

What the papers say 15/11/2015 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06p59dm

Group 7 C1

Class

Grammarising task - turning headlines into grammatical text.

Reading - Journalism, Language Leader Advanced p.82.

Homework

Vocabulary exercise p. 83, questions 4 & 5.

Vocabulary

Lo and behold

To get the axe/the chop/the sack = to be fired/sacked/dismissed

To keep in touch/to stay in touch 

To lose touch (with someone)

The British Council at ANIA - GROUP 6 B1.2

Class

Using the phonemic chart to improve pronunciation.

1) Hidden Names - identifying phonemes

2) "ea" spelling and pronunciation

3) "ed" endings and pronunciation

4) The features of stress timed intonation

Going further:

For more notes and exercises on pronunciation go to: http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/11442648/Pronunciation

Post CPE Lesson 6

Class

What The Papers Say BBC Radio 4 8/11/2015

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06npkft

Listening skills - gist listening, note-taking, summarising

Vocabulary

To foil

To hamper

Lo and behold Originally from the Middle English word loke, the expression literally means look and see and is an exclamation used to show surprise. Often it is used ironically to suggest that even though surprising, the event could have been predicted. 

The mind boggles

Put/place your cards on the table

To cook the news, To cook the books (to manipulate or falsify)

Makes me nostalgic for the day (when)

To twig (to guess/realise suddenly) This has nothing to do with twigs on trees but comes from an old Irish word tuigim meaning to comprehend. 

To bring over (convince)

To be upfront

Dawn raids

Sketch comedy

Journalistic cliches

Striking a balance

Shocking revelations

A Whitehall/government source/a source at number 10

The (name of newspaper) has learnt

Metaphors

To slither down the slope of... with the handbrake on

To water the barren landscape (of)

Corrections

Make people to fear X

Make people fear

Weigh /wei/ verb - How much do you weigh?

Weight /weit/ noun - What is your weight?

Going Further

To download podcasts of What The Papers Say from previous weeks, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sgy8c/episodes/downloads

The next episode (summarising and satirising this week's news) will be available on 15/11 at 22:45 (GMT)

EU Commission Writing Course Lesson 7

Lesson 7

Class

Listening Skills - note taking and summary exercise

Brexit

Yesterday In Parliament http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p037qblk

Law In Action http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06np61n (15:10 - 20:44)

Vocabulary

Pig in a poke

Thin gruel

To tinker around with (something)

Bang the drum

To give the thumbs up/down

Verb Sructure

http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/25080022/Verb%20Structure

Homework

Finish the verb structure and reporting verb exercises on the photocopy worksheet.

British Council at D'Amico Shipping Level B1/2

Class

Goal setting
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/84924628/Things%20To%20Think%20About%20When%20Starting%20A%20New%20Course

The Four Keys to success in learning a language

http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/84924640/The%20Keys%20To%20Success

Corrections

False Friends

Actually/really

Society/company

Verb Structure

What's the difference between 

He stopped to think.

He stopped thinking

Word Forms

It's a very problem x

It's a very big (difficult, etc) problem

Very + adjective

Homework

1. Set yourself a realistic timetable for practising English during the week.

2. Check out the range of podcasts available from BBC Radio 4. You can listen on BBC iPlayer or download for free. http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4

Legal English at Bennett Languages, Civitavecchia - Lesson 4

Lesson 4
Class
The Law Making Process
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/70148984/The%20Law%20Making%20Process
Listening Exercise - redrafting a law

Homework
Choose one of the other proposed laws. What amendments could you make so that the law achieves its aims while being clear, unambiguous, enforceable and practical?

Going Further
Law In Action - listen on the BBC iPlayer or download the podcast for free http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tgy1

British Council at D'Amico Shipping Level B2

Lesson 1

Class
1. Goal Setting - Starting a New Course
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/84924628/Things%20To%20Think%20About%20When%20Starting%20A%20New%20Course
2. To BEC or not to BEC? See links below.
3. Discussion - Language Learning and Tests
Compare and contrast your experiences learning Italian and learning English

• What do your remember about your classes at school? 
• How was writing taught at school?
• What is different about studying a language as an adult?
• Do you think it is important to learn language terminology (e.g. the names of tenses)? When studying your own language? When studying a foreign language?
• What should be the main aim of a language test?

References
Nicky Morgan is the U.K.’s Secretary of State for Education
Key Stage 2 refers to the national curriculum for school years 3 - 6 in England in Wales (7 to 11 year olds)
Spag = spelling, punctuation and grammar

Vocabulary
to keep in mind - remember
to stack up - accumulate
to turn up - appear
to bring in - introduce
trick question - deliberately misleading question
essay

Reading
What are Michael Rosen’s criticisms of the test? Do you agree?
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/nov/03/morgan-grammar-test-right-answer-spag-english-spelling-punctuation-grammar?CMP=fb_gu

Corrections
depends from on
sorry for the late I'm late

Homework
1. Take a look at the test discussed in the article. Do you agree with the comments made by Michael Rosen?
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/439299/Sample_ks2_EnglishGPS_paper1_questions.pdf
2. Which Exam is for me?
BEC Vantage B2 level
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/business-certificates/business-vantage/
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/business-certificates/business-vantage/exam-format
BEC Higher C1 Level
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/business-certificates/business-higher/
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/business-certificates/business-higher/exam-format

How long is a Cambridge Certificate valid for? See: http://www.cambridgeesol-bern.ch/PDF/LanguageAbility.pdf Fees for the computer based Vantage exam in 2015 are €225.00.

British Council at ANIA: Lesson 23

Group 5 C2
Class

1. Writing Folder 10 - articles & letters
2. Writing Task Two - brainstorming and planning

Homework
1. Write your answer (280 - 320 words). Give yourself 35 minutes for the task including time for editing and checking.

2. Prepositions and particles - both exercises taken from Gold p.120

Group 7 C1
Class
1. Modal perfect - listening for form and identifying function
2. Unit 8.1 continued - print and broadcast media - listening and vocabulary.

Vocabulary
Defamation
Libel
Swindle

Pronunciation
row/row http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/row
ear piece/herpes Be careful!

Homework
Finish the exercises using the headlines on p. 81

Going Further
Modal Perfect
Song - Should Have Known Better by Sufjan Stevens

Strange Translations of English Language Movies.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/zachkornfeld/mr-cat-poop#.jsWpJW8mQv

British Council at ANIA Group 6 B1.2

Class
The link between pronunciation, listening and grammar.
Present perfect simple and continuous.

Homework
Download the Sounds Right App or a phonemic chart with the same layout and audio function.
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/apps/sounds-right

Going Further
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/11442648/Pronunciation

Post CPE Lesson 5

Presentation - Peanuts

Language Training

• Expressions with get, prepositions and particles (Gold, p. 120)
• Sentence transformation exercise (Gold, p. 164) - it's high time we did, shed light on, floods of complaints, lose no time in doing something, in the short term.

Vocabulary

Have/keep your nose to the grindstone

up your street/alley

Corrections

I speak/write a good English

better would be:

I speak/write English well

Discussion - Language Learning and Tests

1. Compare and contrast your experiences learning Italian and learning English
2. What do your remember about your classes at school? 
3. How was writing taught at school?
4. What is different about studying a language as an adult?
5. Do you think it is important to learn language terminology (e.g. the names of tenses)? When studying your own language? When studying a foreign language?
6. What should be the main aim of a language test?

References
Nicky Morgan is the U.K.’s Secretary of State for Education
Key Stage 2 refers to the national curriculum for school years 3 - 6 in England in Wales (7 to 11 year olds)
Spag = spelling, punctuation and grammar

Vocabulary
to keep in mind
to stack up
to turn up 

Reading
What are Michael Rosen’s criticisms of the test? Do you agree?
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/nov/03/morgan-grammar-test-right-answer-spag-english-spelling-punctuation-grammar?CMP=fb_gu

Going Further
(1) Take a look at the test discussed in the article. Do you agree with the comments made by Michael Rosen?
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/439299/Sample_ks2_EnglishGPS_paper1_questions.pdf
(2) Horrible Histories

Legal English at Bennett Languages, Civitavecchia - Lesson 3

Lesson 3
Class

1. Recycling legal practice collocations - role-play
2. Types of laws
3. Documents in court - listening skills and collocation
4. To Be Happy Lawyers (And Human Beings) - discussion and reading http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/101161204/To%20Be%20Happy%20Lawyers%20(And%20Human%20Beings)

Going Further

1. Listening practice - watch the videos at the end of the article on the link: http://today.law.harvard.edu/to-be-happy-lawyers-and-human-beings-eight-rules-for-law-students-to-live-by/
2. For Civil Procedure rules in the U.K. have a look at https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil

Notes, Vocabulary & Corrections

Pronunciation
affidavit
privacy
citizen
expertise

Vocabulary
to introduce a bill (to Parliament)
to give effect (to a law)
a law comes into effect
breach of contract
pleading

Corrections
parts    parties
You don't shouldn't say that
I came in to Civitavecchia a few years ago. 

British Council at ANIA Lesson 22

Lesson 22

Group 5 C2

12:30 pm

Class

CPE Listening workshop

Homework

1. Read through the audioscripts from the exams noticing where the answers are. Also make a note down any new vocabulary, especially collocations, phrasal verbs and fixed expressions.

E.g engrossed, to round off

2. Have a look at the examples of the various options in Part Two of the writing paper in your text book. Next week we will have a practice run with a task of your choice.  http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/proficiency/exam-format/

Group 7 C1

2 pm

Class

Review and Correction Units 1 - 3.

Discussion: New Zealand Flag Referendum http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/01/new-zealands-new-flag-final-four-designs-announced

Introduction Unit 8 - Journalism & Media p.80, questions 1, 2a, 2b.

Homework

Jobs in the media p. 80, question 3a

What do these jobs involve? Are they related to broadcast or print media? 

Going Further

What aspects of journalism and the media are discussed in the following films?

Nightcrawler (2014, available on dvd and screening this month on Sky Cinema)

Absence of Malice (1982)

All The President's Men (1976)

Network (1976)

Spotlight (2015, released in Italian cinemas in February 2016)

Broadcast News (1987)

Post CPE Lesson 4

Lesson 4
Discussion Topics
(1) Expo
(2) Marino withdraws resignation.
Mayor’s credibility?
PD’s credibility?
What’s best for the city?

(3) Accountability of politicians
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/29/manifesto-promise-broken-general-election-david-cameron-child-tax-credits
Simon Hattenstone in the Guardian

“If a political party then insists on going ahead with a policy at odds with pre-election promises, they should have a right to, but they should also know there is a price to be paid. There is currently much discussion about the prospect of MPs who regularly defy their party whip facing reselection. But what about parties who defy themselves – and the public who voted them in? Surely, if a government insists on breaking promises that got them elected in the first place, it should face the ultimate sanction: the automatic triggering of a general election.

Why are we so tolerant of political lies? The astonishing thing is that after the Lords vote on tax credits this week, the outrage was not about Cameron’s lying, but whether it had been constitutional to block financial measures approved by the House of Commons. The fact that Cameron and his cabinet had told bare-faced porkies over tax credits was taken as a given.”

Vocabulary
bare faced lie/liar
telling porkies (porkie pies = lies) For more about Cockney Rhyming Slang see: http://www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk
to be taken as (a) given

Music & Language
Do you think pop is music dumbing down?
Do you think that particular genres of music e.g. rock, country, pop, hip hop are more intelligent than others?

Andrew Powell-Morse analysed the reading level of 225 songs that spent three or more weeks at No. 1 on Billboard''s pop, country, rock and hip hop charts.
He notes that the study did not look at the meaning of each song, metaphors, or how the words connect with the artist’s personal story, but the results are still very illuminating.
In 2014, the average reading level of a Billboard No. 1 single was between 7 or 8 years, and has seen a fairly worrying decline over the last decade.

http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/05/the-lyrics-of-recent-no-1-singles-average-at-a-third-grade-reading-level/


Third Grade = school year for 8 year olds

Using Songs 

Lyric sites which include an online discussion on the meaning and metaphors: 

http://www.lyricsmode.com

http://genius.com/artists/John-grant

(1) Global Warming from the album Grey Tickles, Black Pressure (2015) by John Grant

Grey Tickles, Black Pressure is the 3rd solo album released by John Grant, and follows Pale Green Ghost and Queen of Denmark.

“Grey Tickles” is a literal translation from an Icelandic phrase meaning “mid-life crisis, and “Black Pressure” is translated from the Turkish for "nightmare”.

Vocabulary
to throw around
to hang out
to clog up
to work on your tan
a taken man  

(2) It’s the End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) (1987) by REM

from the album Document 

http://genius.com/2335045

Jigsaw listening. 

Collocations
continental drift
to feed something off a speaker/power source
save yourself

Corrections

Pronunciation

pavilion

promise /I/ not /aI/

Vocabulary, Fixed Phrases and Collocations

nightspot spotlight

media covering coverage

the students' frequency attendance was poor

to ridicule

to stab someone in the back

the lowest common denominator

the mayor's term (of office)

student representative

Structure

too much focussed

we wanted to make them to study more

confront with people

Going Further

1. Scary Movie for Halloween - The Babadook http://scarybradshaw.blogspot.it/2015/10/scary-bradshaws-halloween-selection.html
2. No More Tangles - John Grant http://genius.com/John-grant-no-more-tangles-lyrics

E.U. Commission Writing Course Lesson 6

Lesson 6

Class
(1) Timed writing exercise - summarising and evaluating two texts.
(2) Advanced features of vocabulary

• collocation
• fixed expressions
• idioms
• word complementation
• phrasal verbs
• semantic precision

(3) Using word complementation to correct errors in verb structure

Homework

1. Try the rest of the exercises on the vocabulary handout
2. Read the notes about verb structure, noticing the most important patterns and tendencies here: http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/25080022/Verb%20Structure

Legal English at Bennett Languages, Civitavecchia. Lesson 2

Lesson 2
Class
Talking about your profession - aspects of legal practice.
Listening skills
Legal English collocations

Homework

1. Read over the audio script again and make a not of any useful collocations to learn.
2. Write a paragraph describing your own work/legal background using the phrases and collocations learnt today. 
3. Reading - For the modern day usage of juries in civil and criminal courts in the U.K.  see:http://www.inbrief.co.uk/legal-system/when-are-juries-used.htm 

Corrections:
Specifical

Vocabulary
Words for Lawyers:
Barrister, Solicitor, In house Counsel, Attorney, Legal Representative, Legal Adviser/Advisor, Counsellor

Sole practitioner (solo practice), clerk, associate, trainee solicitor.

Civil Trials:
Plaintiff, defendant, burden of proof - on the balance of probabilities
Criminal Trials:
Prosecution (The Crown in the U.K.), defendant/accused, burden of proof - beyond treasonable doubt

Legal Collocations:
advise - clients, corporations, defendants
draft - contracts, decisions, law, legislation
litigate* - cases, disputes
represent - clients, corporations, defendants
practise - law
research - cases, decisions, law, legislation

* to litigate = to take legal action/to take someone to court

British Council at ANIA Lesson 21

Lesson 21
Group 5 C2
12:30pm 

Class
Collocation multiple choice cloze
Same word different meaning - vocal recycling
Part Two Writing - The set text
Writing Folder 8 (p. 140 -141)

CPE Exam Information
Dates for 2015 & 2016
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/proficiency/exam-dates/
Writing
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/proficiency/exam-format/
Part Two Set Text
2016 Exam
https://support.cambridgeenglish.org/hc/en-gb/articles/202838396-Set-texts-for-Cambridge-English-exams
The set texts fro the 2016 exam are:
Family Album by Penelope Lively or F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby
(You may choose to prepare for questions on this set text by studying the 2013 film directed by Baz Luhrmann as well as, or instead of, the novel)

Group 7 C1
2:00pm

Class
Discussion using songs for grammar/vocabulary recycling
http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/77337743/Conditionals%20In%20Song
Unit 3.4 (p. 32 - 33) Stating Objectives & Giving Strong Advice

Homework
Review of Grammar and Vocabulary p. 35 Questions 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3.
Find a song that can help you with your use of modal auxiliary verbs. 

Post CPE Lesson 3

Class

(1) Presentation 

Wish List  by Pearl Jam

I wish I was?
You may sometimes hear "was" used, since the subjunctive is relatively uncommon in English and people sometimes forget to use it, but "were" is definitely the correct verb.
For a discussion of I wish I was/were and the subjunctive see: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/subjunctive-verbs?page=all

(2) Language Training

Exercises from Gold

P. 85 Collocation. Same word/different context.

P. 120 Prepositions and particles

(3) Discussion 

Driverless Cars

Link: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/sep/13/self-driving-cars-bmw-google-2020-driving

New Vocabulary

Malfunction (noun and verb)

Negligence (noun)
Tantamount to (adjective)
If you say that one thing is tantamount to a second, more serious thing, you are emphasising how bad, unacceptable, or unfortunate the first thing is by comparing it to the second - e.g. What he is saying is tantamount to heresy.

Commonly Confused Words

Incident or accident?

Pronunciation

Variable (note the syllable stress)

Corrections

Drive a plane x

Drive a bike x

Fly a plane

Ride a bike

Scaring x

Scary

Drive you at your destination x

Drive you to your destination

They always run a lot x

They always drive/go too fast

They always speed

Examinator x

Examiner

Homework

P.120 Phrasal verbs with get

Read the article on driverless cars and answer the questions on the worksheet.

Going Further

Before seeing The Walk at the cinema, make sure you catch the stunning documentary, Man On Wire, which is also about Philippe Petit and his amazing (and illegal) feat.

Legal English at Bennett Languages, Civitavecchia

Lesson 1
Class

1. Needs Analysis http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/84924628/Things%20To%20Think%20About%20When%20Starting%20A%20New%20Course
2. Keys to Success in a Language Course http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/84924640/The%20Keys%20To%20Success
3. Vocabulary Strategies for Legal English http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/24182444/Vocabulary%20Strategies%20For%20Legal%20English
4. Collocation Exercise - Jury Trials in the U.K. http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/63854933/Criminal%20Trials

Homework

1. Write down your personal goal for the course.
2. Write a paragraph explaining what happens during a jury trial in the U.K. to practice the collocations we learned.

Going Further

1. Download the Sounds Right App to help you with your pronunciation. http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/apps/sounds-right
2. Read the articles on jury trials.

Corrections

do make a mistake

fastly fast

British Council at ANIA Lesson 20

Lesson 20
Group 5 C2
12:30pm

Class 
(1) Phrasal verbs
What generalisations can you make from the particles up and down?
Adapted from New Proficiency Gold p. 84
(2) Part One Reading & Use of English - Multiple Choice Cloze
Strategy & Practice http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/cpe/students/strategy/p3pt5a.htm for exercises

Homework

(1) Do the collocation exercise (question 4) from today's photocopy. For the last two questions you will need to find the missing words yourself. 

(2) Exam Folder 3, p. 48 - 49

(3) Learn any new phrasal verbs which came up today e.g. shoot up, step/stand down, break down. Make sure you record the type of multi-word verb it is (transitive, intransitive, separable, inseparable), an example sentence and a synonym or English definition.

Group 7 C1

2:00pm

Class

Unit 3.3 p. 31

Diplomacy collocations

Listening - pros and cons of overseas postings 

Modal Perfect G2 p.139

Homework

Modal Perfect - p. 31 Q. 9