ANIA 2018: B2 & C1 (Monday) Lesson 19

B2 12:30pm
Class 

1. Commonly confused abbreviations - e.g. (for example) & i.e. (that is or in other words) I eat all citrus fruit, e.g. oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit. I eat all citrus fruit, i.e. anything juicy with a sharp taste. 
2. Functional phrases for emails
3. Starting and finishing emails (Business Advantage, p. 117)

Homework
Using the chart on p. 177, mark where you think each of the 5 example emails on p. 116 sit in terms of style and relationship.

C1 2:00pm
Class

1. Discussion and Vocabulary Why does Airbnb’s guarantee make it so difficult to claim? Source: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/oct/03/airbnb-damage-redress-guarantee 
2. The etymology of irregular verbs (wend,wrought)
3. Words for lawyers: Barrister, Solicitor, Attorney
4. Puns: Illusionist + allusion = allusionist

Homework

1. Going further: Related Air B&B stories: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/aug/04/what-happens-when-airbnb-goes-wrong
2. Scroll through the podcasts on The Allusionist website: https://www.theallusionist.org/ What language issues are you most interested in? 

ANIA 2018: B2 (Thursday) Lesson 19

Lesson 19
B2 2pm
Class

1. Building relationships across companies. (Revision of Business Advantage p.16)
2. Pre-meeting small talk - vocabulary, practice, role-play
3. Question tags for encouraging conversation

Vocabulary

Key Phrases

Trip

How was your trip?

Did you get here all right?

Did you fly/take the train?

Weather

How was the weather in Milan/Berlin/Madrid?

Warm here, isn't it?

Not like autumn at all, is it?

There aren't any seasons anymore, are there?

Never know what to wear, do you?

Meeting

What do you think of the venue?

How are you getting to the meeting? On foot? By taxi?

Work

How's it going at (name of company)

How long have you worked for them now?

Where are you based?

Local Events

Are you going to the match/game/concert/festival while you're here? 

Homework

Worksheet One - Improve your knowledge of building relationships

ANIA 2018: C1 & C2 (Wednesday) Lesson 18

Lesson 18
C1 12:30pm
Class 

• Reading & correction for multiple choice comprehension 
• Idiomatic Expressions - home & family
• Word Formation
• Speaking - extending discourse & brainstorming vocabulary My ideal home

Resource: Advanced Expert pp. 104 - 106

Vocabulary
to stir (someone/something) up
to spark off
to not know which way to turn
defensive 
destructive

Homework

1. Multiple Choice Cloze p. 107
2. Make a list of typical suffixes for adjectives plus examples https://www.grammar-quizzes.com/adj-forms.html

C2 2pm

Class

Speaking - your week in pop culture

Listening - multiple matching 

Source: https://www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/nounnames

Homework 

Listen to the rest of the episode and check your answers to the class exercise by re-listening with the audio script: https://www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/nounnames

Going further: You might want to follow up by listening to this: https://www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/name-therapy

ANIA 2018: B2 & C1 (Monday) Lesson 18

Lesson 18
B2
Class

• Emails - relationship, register, writing concisely
• Error correction - effective communication in emails

Vocabulary

on me/us c.f. your shout/your round

give someone a ring

to mess someone about 

Homework
Check the meaning of common email abbreviations:
i.e., e.g., c.c., b.c.c., a.s.a.p., re

C1
Class
Error correction - pair exercise & discussion:
punctuation & spelling, verb structure, dependent prepositions, articles

Homework
Reading Air B&B & Insurance
Prepare for discussion next week
Why does Airbnb’s guarantee make it so difficult to claim?
It promises hosts won’t be left out of pocket for damage but it’s hard to get in touch
Anna Tims Wed 3 Oct 2018 07.00 BST 
Source:https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/oct/03/airbnb-damage-redress-guarantee

ANIA 2018: B2 (Thursday) Lesson 18

Lesson 18
B2 2pm

Class
Strategies for listening & speaking effectiveness in international meetings.

Homework
For your self study why not combine reading and listening practice using ebooks & audiobooks together. For a range of free ebook and audio book downloads (as all these titles are in the public domain) go to: http://www.loyalbooks.com

ANIA 2018: C1 & C2 (Wednesdays) Lesson 17

C1 12:30pm
Class

1. Introduction to Chapter 7 - Values p. 103
2. Easily Confused words p. 106, question 1

Homework 
Reading: Why going back home can be dangerous. pp. 104 - 105

C2 2:00pm
Class

1. Commonly confused words occurrence/incident, differ/differentiate
2. Air B&B and Insurance

Vocabulary
to be left out of pocket
to stonewall someone
an add-on
wrought havoc (what is the present tense? see: http://virtuallinguist.typepad.com/the_virtual_linguist/2011/08/wreaked-havoc-or-wrought-havoc.html)
to stump up for something

Reading
Read TB's letter below.

1. What are the insurance/legal issues? 
2. What would you advise TB to do? 

Why does Airbnb’s guarantee make it so difficult to claim?
It promises hosts won’t be left out of pocket for damage but it’s hard to get in touch
Anna Tims Wed 3 Oct 2018 07.00 BST 
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/oct/03/airbnb-damage-redress-guarantee

I decided to list my flat on Airbnb for two months while I was working abroad. One of the bookings was for two guests, but neighbours report there were more and they left damage to furniture and fittings.
Airbnb claims to provide a guarantee that the host will not lose out if a guest causes damage. However, I have been totally stonewalled in my attempts to claim.
Customer service staff can’t discuss the case over the phone and don’t reply to my emails. I have had to decline reservation requests until the damage is repaired, as the apartment is not fit for guests as it is.
TB, London

Now read the response from Anna Timms below - what is your view? 
“Live a richer life; start hosting,” Airbnb’s website urges homeowners.
Some hosts have found themselves considerably poorer, however, after guests wrought havoc and the company refused redress.
The host guarantee, which promises cover for up to $1m, can lure owners into a false sense of security, for it is not an insurance policy – indeed, hosting can invalidate your home insurance. And because it’s not a paid-for policy you are named on, there’s no recourse if Airbnb refuses to honour a claim.
Moreover, there’s a long list of exclusions, including damage caused by guests who were not included on the booking and damage to communal areas. And you have to claim before the next set of guests arrives, which, if you’re abroad, gives you no chance to identify the problems.
It’s hardly surprising Airbnb makes it as difficult as possible, since it provides the potentially crippling guarantee for free.
However, the company acknowledges it failed you. “Our original handling of this case did not meet the usual high standards we set for ourselves and we have apologised to the host for the delay,” it says. It has now stumped up £2,859.

Some insurers offer a Airbnb add-on to home insurance, and there are specialist companies that cover paid-guest stays.

Corrections
Damage & Furniture are uncountable and therefore only used in the singular.
Compare the difference in meaning between damage & damages.

Going Further 
1. The Grammar of Either/Or, Neither/Nor
When using either/or and neither/nor, note the following rules:
1. If both elements are singular, then the verb is singular too.
Either the father or the mother has to attend the meeting. (The nouns 'father' and 'mother' are singular; so the verb 'has' is singular too)
Neither Leila nor Nancy is going to write the report. ('Leila' and 'Nancy' are singular; so the verb ' is' is singular too)
2. However, if one of the elements is plural, then use a plural verb.
Either Sue or the girls are going to prepare dinner tonight. (The noun 'girls' is plural; so the verb 'are' is plural too)

Neither the teacher nor the students were in the classroom this morning. (The noun 'students' is plural; so the verb 'were' is plural too)

Extra practice: https://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-either-or-neither-nor.php

2. Learning English with "Friends"

ANIA 2018 B2 & C1 Lesson 17

Lesson 17
12:30pm B2
Class

• Goal setting for this term
• Formal & informal emails at work (Business Advantage p. 116, questions 1 - 3)
• Common abbreviations (can you remember the abbreviations for regarding, (blind) carbon copy and laugh out loud? When would you use them?

Vocabulary
to mess someone around  = to cause someone trouble
to give someone a ring = to phone someone

Homework
Find three examples that demonstrate the difference in use between i.e. and e.g.

2 pm C1
Class

Negotiating the term's syllabus - grammar audit, speaking fluency, listening effectiveness. How can we combine these three aims?

Homework

• Think of 3 - 4 topics to use as resources for our language work this term. Come to class next week prepared to negotiate with your classmates which topics we will focus on as a group. 
• Error correction exercise