Thursday 30 June 2016

D'Amico Shipping B1 Lesson 28

"The buck stops here." President Harry S. Truman
Lesson 28

Vocabulary - idioms 
The difference between idioms and fixed expressions:

A fixed expression is a form of expression that has taken on a more specific meaning than the words themselves. It is the standard way of expressing a concept or an idea; it is something we ordinarily say in certain situations.

Examples include:
Pleased to meet you
All of a sudden
On the other hand
More trouble than it’s worth

Neither here nor there

An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own.

Examples include:
A can of worms (a complicated problem)
A chip of the old block (a child with similar characteristics to one of their parents)
To be out for the count (to be sleeping peacefully)
Rub someone the wrong way (annoy or bother someone)

Pull someone’s leg (tease someone by trying to make them believe something that is not true)

Money idioms
to splash out on something (a product)
to rip someone off or to be/get ripped off
to go on a spending spree
to be (flat) broke
to pass the buck 

See unit New Language Leader Unit 4.2 p. 39 questions 6a, 6b, 7.


Listening - Using correct and appropriate language online.
Unit 4.3, p. 40, question 1a.

Speaking - Discussion - Brexit

Homework - answers reading pp. 38 -39 questions 
5a
a) text 2, b) text 3, c) text 1
5b
a) text 3, b) text 2, c) text 1
5c




Saturday 25 June 2016

Post CPE Lesson 27 (Final)

Class
Discussion:
  • Brexit
  • Freedom of speech
Reading:
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21699909-curbs-free-speech-are-growing-tighter-it-time-speak-out-under-attack

Note the use of the hypothetical structure on page 3:
If words are upsetting, people would rather the government or some other authority made the speaker shut up. 

Vocabulary:
curb (noun and verb)
free for all
crony, cronyism
crackdown
(to say something with a) straight face
sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me
scales
outweigh
to balance the scales
to flog 
to flog a dead horse
to build bridges
to bridge a gap
to muzzle
to goad (someone into doing something)  = incite
to tweak = to make a minor alteration

Correction:
depends from on

Going Further
  • Reading
How the U.K. voted in the referendum:
http://lordashcroftpolls.com/2016/06/how-the-united-kingdom-voted-and-why/

TTIP and ISDS:

  • Viewing/listening How to get away with murder

  • Viewing/listening Veep 

Thursday 23 June 2016

D'Amico Shipping B1 Lesson 27

Class
Introduction to future forms
New Language Leader Unit 4.2 p.  38

Click on image to see full chart


Corrections
I asked to him X
I asked him

Homework

  1. Reading pp. 38 - 39 questions 5a,b,c.
  2. Do some other reading or listening paying attention to the use of the various future forms. 

Wednesday 22 June 2016

D'Amico Shipping B2 Lesson 28

Class
Customer Service
BEC Masterclass
Unit 12 p. 94, 98, 99, 147 (audioscript)
Discussion and Listening part one gap fill

Third conditional - past perfect tenses for impossibility (e.g. Hypothetcial past situations)
Past modal forms
(click on image to see full chart)





Vocabulary
Sale /ei/ (noun)
Sell /e/ (verb)
Choice /ɔɪs/ (noun)
Choose /u:z/ ( verb)
Cold call(ing)
Call centre
After sales service
Skip (ahead) = leave out

Corrections
Unpolite
impolite (prefixes)
Splitted
split (irregular verbs)
A wrong information
some wrong information (uncountable nouns)
Said me the true x
Told me the truth (verb patterns and word forms)

Homework
1) Unit 9 revision
2) Find examples of the third conditional in your reading or listening. 

Going further 
Some examples of bad customer service in film and tv. (Warning: does contain swearing) 
Little Britain

Bridesmaids



Our next lesson will be on Wednesday 6th July



Tuesday 21 June 2016

European Commission, Series 2 Lesson 13

Class
Media Group

Conditionals - corrections
Review 2nd conditionals (hypotheticals in the present and future) and mixed conditionals.

Discussion
Freedom of Speech

Reading: Freedom of speech under attack http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21699909-curbs-free-speech-are-growing-tighter-it-time-speak-out-under-attack

Homework

  • Reading - what is your view of The Economist article on freedom of speech
  • Re-read the article and note vocabulary features such as collocations, fixed phrases, idioms, word complementation and hypothetical/conditional structures.

Thursday 16 June 2016

D'Amico Shipping B1 Lesson 26

Class
Language Learning (Textbook pp. 36 - 37)

Corrections
I agree to with the statement

False Friends
sensitive
responsive to or aware of feelings, moods, reactions, etc
sensible
having or showing good sense or judgment
actual
existing in reality or as a matter of fact, real or genuine

For more false friends between English and Italian see: http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/41184334/Vocabulary

Vocabulary
purpose/goal/objective/aim
slang 
vocabulary, idiom, etc, that is not appropriate to the standard form of a language or to formal contexts, may be restricted as to social status or distribution, and is characteristically more metaphorical and transitory than standard language.
dialect
a form of a language spoken in a particular geographical area or by members of a particular social class or occupational group, distinguished by its vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

Phrasal Verbs
to keep up with
to pick up
to catch on
to fall behind (in something)
to get by (in something)
to let down
to take up
to take off
to pay off

Homework
Choose one of the statements in question 7 (p. 37) and write a paragraph of about 100 words saying if you agree or disagree and why.


Wednesday 15 June 2016

D'Amico Shipping B2 Lesson 27

Class
Listening - Corporate Gifts
Functional Language for suggesting, accepting and (politely) rejecting ideas.
Masterclass p. 78, p. 145

Vocabulary
He hasn't got any idea (uncountable = understanding) = He doesn't know anything
He hasn't got any ideas (countable = suggestion) + He doesn't have any suggestions/proposals.
modest
ostentatious
golf clubs
bagpipes
conflict of interest

Pronunciation
rhotic 
1. Of or relating to the pronunciation of the sound (r).

2. Of or relating to dialects or accents in which the written letter r is pronounced, especially when following a vowel and preceding a consonant or a syntactic pause.
edge/hedge
angry/hungry
advice (noun)/advise (verb)

Going Further
Today we talked a lot about pronunciation especially the difference between voiced and unvoiced consonants e.g. /z/ versus /s/ and vowel sounds. Compare and contrast the charts below which show the vowel sounds in standard British, American and New Zealand English and the vowels in Italian. Note the difference in position on the chart which shows where the sounds are made.

Standard British English


Standard American English




New Zealand English











Italian








Tuesday 14 June 2016

Saturday 11 June 2016

Post CPE Lesson 26

Class
Plastics!
Listening Skills - note taking
Reading Skills - opinion/attitude/register
Vocabulary Skills - informal phrases
Language Skills - cohesion: substitution and ellipsis

Vocabulary
On a wing and a prayer = with only the slightest hope of succeeding
Net -based = of, relating to, or using the internet
Blight = a person or thing that mars or prevents growth, improvement, or prosperity

Cruel chance
Allow me to explain
Disparaging (words, remark etc) - speech that's intended to belittle or reproach
Teeming with
Untold numbers of

Rant (verb and noun)
To spout 
To wheel out
To bother to do something (cf. To bother someone)
To be bothered
Cardboard


Going Further
Reading 
Can the web save the press from oblivion?
Expressions and Idioms
(Caught) between a rock and a hard place
(Caught) between the devil and the deep blue sea
To be at the end of your rope/tether. = to have no more patience or strength
To pluck up the courage to do something
Ostrich = someone who "buries their head in the sand"/avoids uncomfortable truths
Lemming = someone who blindly follows the crowd to their detriment

Listening/Viewing
Boyan Slat's Ocean Cleanup Project


Thursday 9 June 2016

D'Amico Shipping B1 Lesson 25

Class
Writing Skills - a speculative covering letter/email.
https://www.msc.com/gbr/careers

In a targeted covering letter/email, the writer is responding to a specific advertised vacancy but in a speculative covering letter he/she is making contact with a company he/she is interested in joining. 

Vocabulary
grow (verb) growth (noun)
down-to-earth = practical and realistic

Homework
Finish the second draft of your letter.

Wednesday 8 June 2016

D'Amico Shipping B2 Lesson 26

Class
Conditionals continued

Notes 

ALTERNATIVES TO “IF”

Even if
Even if = Even though
Compare the difference in meaning between these 3 sentences:

You must go tomorrow if you are ready or not.
You must go tomorrow if you are ready.
You must go tomorrow even if you aren’t ready.

We wouldn't encourage him to do that even if he is in good health.
We wouldn't encourage him to do that even though he is good health.

There can be a small difference in meaning.
We'd use "if" for a case in which at the time of the statement, we don't know the state of his health.
When we say "even though," we usually mean that we know his health to be good.

Unless
Unless + affirmative verb = If + negative verb
e.g.      Unless you pay the fine in 30 days, we will initiate proceedings.
Or       If you don’t pay the fine in 30 days, we will initiate proceedings.

Compare these 2 sentences:
(a) Don’t call me if  you need help.
(b) Don’t call me unless you need help.
Which sentence means “I won’t help you even if you need it.”?
Which sentence means “I’ll help you only if you need it.”?

Otherwise

As long as / So long as / Provided that
 (The condition must be in place for the result to happen)

You will pass so long as/as long as/provided that you study.

Provided that gives a strong sense of limitation or permission and is often used in contracts and official documents.

Suppose / Supposing
Similar to “What if?”


Homework
Find a text (written or audio) that includes some conditional forms. what do you notice about the tenses and modal verbs used?

Going Further
Morning Glory Oasis
For a discussion of the lyrics go to:  http://genius.com/5401952




Saturday 4 June 2016

Post CPE Lesson 25

Class
Listening Skills 
High Numbers
Podcast More or Less 22/04/2016
Listen or download here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03s4577

An artist's impression of the planned nuclear power plant. 

What is the most expensive “object” ever built? There are plans in the UK to build a brand new nuclear power station called Hinckley Point. The environmental charity Greenpeace have claimed it is set to be the most expensive object on Earth. But could it really cost more to build than the Great Pyramid of Giza? We take a look at some of the most costly building projects on the planet.

Notes:
Billion 1,000,000,000 (short scale used in the U.S., U.K. since 1974 and most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand).
1,000,000,000,000 (long scale used in the U.K. until 1974, still used in some countries e.g. in South Amercia).
Pronunciation of large numbers:
£324,345,923.00 
Three hundred and twenty four million, three hundred and forty-five thousand, nine hundred and twenty-three pounds.
Note also the use of commas and full stops in English.

Vocabulary
Piffling - trival/of little value e.g. A piffling number/amount = an insignificant number or amount. 
To splash out on (something) = to spend a lot of money on
A bargain = something of good quality obtained at a low price
Quids = pounds
Caveat = caution, warning
to pip (at the post) defeat by a small margin or at the last moment: you were just pipped for the prize.
(not) much/just north of [amount]  = more than
short of [amount]  = less than

Speaking
Journalism 
"Churnalism"
Collins definition: (noun) derogatory a type of journalism that relies on reusing existing material such as press releases and wire service reports instead of original research, especially as a result of an increased demand for news content

Homework
Reading:

Wednesday 1 June 2016

D'Amico Shipping B2 Lesson 25

Class
Speaking skills
Topic one:
Journalism 
"Churnalism"
Collins definition: (noun) derogatory a type of journalism that relies on reusing existing material such as press releases and wire service reports instead of original research, especially as a result of an increased demand for news content
Reading:

Topic two: 
Education
Vocabulary: 
Subject
Course of study
Extra-curricular classes/activities
Physical education

Lexical set - swimming
Strokes - butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle ((Australian) crawl)
Kick-board
Water wings/floats
Pull-buoy
Paddles
Flippers/fins
Goggles









Going further
Conditionals in songs:
If - Joni Mitchell

If I Were A Boy - Beyoncé
Top marks to Beyoncé for her correct use of the subjunctive. http://www.mainstreethost.com/blog/the-subjunctive-mood-why-its-i-wish-i-were-not-i-wish-i-was/