ANIA C2 Group 8 (2pm)

Class
What is bravery to you?
Who is someone you admire for their bravery?

Reclaiming Fear by Magda Szubanksi
http://player.themoth.org/#/?actionType=ADD_TO_FAVORITES&storyId=561

Magda Szubanski  is an Australian television and film actress, comedian and writer. She is best known internationally for her work on Babe and Happy Feet and their sequels but is much loved in Australia for her TV comedy work especially on the series Kath & Kim. Her memoir, Reckoning was released in 2015 and won Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards in May 2016.


1. Vocabulary
publicist
unflattering
to eviscerate (If you described yourself as feeling eviscerated, how would you feel?)
(fear of) the mob
triage

Collocations & Expressions
to relish the prospect
to be beside yourself with (usually followed by a strong emotion e.g. joy, anger, grief, despair)
(to be) in the thick of it/something

Cultural References
terry towelling hat 
Jenny Craig 
Kirstie Alley
to mow the lawn 
bathers
newsstand 
lounge room




Based on the title of the story and the key words, expressions and references we have discussed, what do you think Szubanksi will talk about?

2. Listening

1. How did the news of the paparazzi photos make her feel? Why?
2. What does she think people really mean when they praise her for being brave? 
3. What happened to her father in 1943?
4. Why does she feel conflicted about her father’s role in the war?
5. What happened when she was 9 years old that changed her perception of both WWII and her father?
6. How did the documentary make her feel?
7. What surprised her about her father’s reaction to the documentary and how did this change their relationship?
8. At what point did she conquer her fear?
9. What is the great privilege she acknowledges at the end of the talk?

Apart from vocabulary, what features of Australian English did you notice?

Homework
Listen to the recording again, this time noticing the new vocabulary from today.

Going Further

• Magda Szubanksi's comedy

• Live Stories from ABC Australia - Soundcloud link - including Reclaiming Fear 

https://soundcloud.com/abc-conversations/live-stories-vol-6-true-stories-told-live-on-stage

• The Moth https://themoth.org

ANIA C1 Group 6 (12:30pm)

Class
The link between pronunciation, listening and grammar. How noticing the features of fast connected speech can help you identify grammatical structures more effectively.

http://seansenglishclassroom.pbworks.com/w/page/32174148/Conditionals%20and%20Pronunciation

Homework
Look at the sentences again. Which words/syllables were stressed? What happened to the once that weren't? Think about:

Assimilation

1. Anticipatory/regressive -  becomes more like the next sound - most common in fast connected speech
2. Retrospective/progressive - becomes more like the preceeding sound
3. Fusion - two sounds merge usually making an affricate

Bad man (place) /bæbmɑn/

Good times* (voice) /gʊttɑɪmz/

Good night  (manner) /gʊnnɑɪt/

Gonna, gimme etc /gɪmmi/

Have to, used to are examples of progressive devoicing /haftə/

/juːstə/

Would you, caught you examples of fusion - /kɔːʈʃuː/

/wʊdʒuː/

*double tt consonant like in Italian - extra long closure followed by a release. 

Elision

Loss of /t/ and /d/ sounds

Handbag /hambæg/

Elision of vowels: she's, geography, police, bottle. /ʃiːz dʒɒgrəfiˑ plɪːs bɒtl/

Insertion

Approximants /r/ /j/ / w/

My aunt, your uncle, how awful, I understand, go under, to others, be optimistic

/mɑɪjaːnt jɔːrʌŋkl hɑʊwɔːfʊl aɪʌndəstænd gɑʊwʌndə tuːwʌðəz biːjɒptəmIstIk/

He didn't watch tv or go to work

Semi vowel /j/ helps move from a front closed vowel /i:/ to a back half open one /ɔː/

ANIA B2.3 Group 5 (2pm)

Class
Business Travel 
1. Vocabulary
queue (noun and verb)
Collocations
fasten (your) seatbelt
make a reservation
free of charge
leave a tip
Pronunciation
aisle
Corrections
take get a pen
more quicker much quicker

2. Comparative and Superlative Forms
Check the rules here http://www.eflnet.com/tutorials/adjcompsup.php
Irregular Forms
good, better, the best
little, less, the least
Intensifiers
Much better
Much more beautiful
Phrases
more and more
less and less

3. Writing Short Letters & Emails

Today's material was taken from the BEC Masterclass Workbook pp. 14 - 15, 18.

Homework
Highlight useful phrases from today's writing examples. They could be useful for our class next week.

ANIA 2.2 Group 2 (12:30 pm)

Class

• Vocabulary Skills

Activities to help you learn a word (see previous blogpost)

• Dictionary Skills - words with several meanings e.g. cool (trendy), mild (not very strong), hot (spicy), warm (friendly), bright (intelligent).

• New Vocabulary (click on the word to get more information from the Collins online dictionary) 

trendy

straight

leaf (plural leaves)

handwriting

Homework

1. Finish the exercises on the worksheet - questions 4a, 4b (opposites)
2. Practice today's vocabulary tasks using one or two new words from today's lesson 

ANIA C2 Group 8 (2pm)

Class
Banned Books Week
Discussion and Listening

1. What is Banned Books Week and what is its purpose?
2. How did the event begin?
3. What are some famous examples of banned books throughout history?
4. Why do you think a literary classic such as Brave New World was banned? 
5. Why do you think children’s book, The Lorax, was banned?
6. Is censorship a dangerous concept?
7. Do librarians have a responsibility as “gatekeepers” or do they have a different role? 

Now listen to this interview from Radio New Zealand. How does the librarian from Christchurch Polytech, Julie Humby, answer the above questions?

1. What phrase does Julie Humby use when giving an answer she is not 100% sure is correct?
2. Julie Humby describes herself as an "out there” parent. What does she mean?
3. Did you have any difficulties with the New Zealand accents? What differences do you notice between New Zealand and R.P. or standard American accents? 

To listen again go to: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/20151340/banned-books-week,-a-spotlight-on-censorship

Reading

1. Before you read, look at the most challenged books of 2001 and 2015. Do you detect a change in the type of books that are being challenged? 
2. Now read the article - what changes does the author highlight?

http://time.com/4505713/banned-books-week-reasons-change/

Homework

1) CPE type exercise. Read through the article again and make a list of the key points in your own words. Using your notes write a short summary (50 - 60 words) of the article.

What the List of Most Banned Books Says About Our Society’s Fears

Sarah Begley @SCBegley 6:00 AM ET

http://time.com/4505713/banned-books-week-reasons-change/

2) Listen to the interview again identifying sections where the accent made it difficult to understand. 

Going Further

Listening

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/201774635/all-restrictions-lifted-on-the-first-book-banned-in-20-years

Reading

http://www.care2.com/causes/my-high-school-librarian-gave-me-a-potentially-banned-book-that-changed-my-life.html

ANIA C1 Group 6 (12:30pm)

Class - focus: listening strategies and skills
Discussion
What are the factors that prevent equal representation of men and women in politics?


Vocabulary
What do the following words and expressions mean:
(to play) good cop/bad cop
(to be as) hard as nails
to heckle someone
showy
to wear your heart on your sleeve
to backstab someone
backlash

Listening
http://www.dw.com/en/top-stories/europe/s-1433

First & Second Listening - Comprehension

1. What was Theresa May’s position before becoming PM? 
2. What similarities does the report mention between May and Margaret Thatcher?
3. What does Sarah Gordon from The Financial Times say about the difference between male and female politicians?
4. What was controversial about then PM David Cameron’s treatment of  MP Angela Eagle in 2011? 
5. What examples does the reporter give to support her claim that there has been a surge of women into power since 2011?
6. Is there parity between men and women in Theresa May’s cabinet? 
7. What is May’s biggest challenge and why?

Homework
Third Listening - Vocabulary
Listen again noting how the vocabulary in the first exercise was used. Note down any other new or unusual vocabulary that you hear.

Corrections
The people is...    The people are...

ANIA A2.2 Group 2 (12:30pm)

Writing down a translation of new words is always helpful but it doesn't mean you know the word. It is a starting point only. Spend some time with your dictionary and see what information it can give you about the word. The more information you have about the word, the more you are likely to remember it. 

9 Things you can do to help you learn a new word:

E.g. Happy

1. Make a note of the part of speech. Happy is an adjective so it will come before the noun. Sometimes it will follow a noun in a compound like trigger-happy but this gives the word a different meaning.  

2.  Write down a definition in English e.g. To feel positive/good, pleased, glad

3. Practice the Pronunciation. Listento it, say it, record yourself saying it. Say it in a sentence - does it sound different? Listen to the pronunciation on the online dictionary. Are there any variations e.g. British/ American English?

4. Write down sentences and other examples of its usage.

He was really happy to see his family again.

Happy is often used when offering our best wishes to someone, e.g.

Happy birthday!

Happy anniversary!

Happy holidays! (An alternative to Merry Christmas!)

5. Use the word to make other forms e.g. Happiness (noun), Happily (adverb), Happier (comparative), Happiest (superlative).

6. Note its synonyms: glad, pleased, joyous

7. And antonyms: unhappy, sad

8. Notice collocations and expressions which include the word: to be happy to see someone, a happy mood, a happy frame of mind, happy go lucky

9. Practice by noticing the word when you read and listen. Using songs is a great way to help you remember pronunciation, meaning and use.