2016.11.02 - Class 4

Homework and exam review

We reviewed your homework from the last class and I gave you a few minutes to copy the vocabulary in p.17 ex 2-3 into your vocabulary notebooks. For example, for ex2 a), write 'asteroid belt', for b) write 'pallid (pálido)' (or something similar). For ex 3 a) 'belt up (in CA/ES)'. If anyone wants to make a Quizlet list out of these, please ask me for the password.

We also reviewed a couple sections from the Use of English exam you did in the last class and talked in general about your marks. I asked you to record your marks somewhere in your notebook. Every time you get a mark, you should add it to that page so that you can see your progress. This is really important, as otherwise, it's difficult to see improvement sometimes.

Speaking exam part 1

We discussed the video you had for homework. I'd particularly recommend:

• use less common verbs and adjectives to show off your vocabulary and include details
• use connectors like 'because', 'although', 'on the other hand' to make longer, more natural sentences
• use fillers to give yourself time to think (e.g. 'That's a good question.' or 'Let me see...')
• be ready to answer 'Where are you from?' and 'What do you like about living there?'

We then did some of the exercises on p.15. We also watched a video of two young women taking the FCE Speaking exam and evaluated it:

Afterwards, you practiced speaking part 1 in pairs.

Revision of your email writing tasks

To start off, we looked at an email that a real student wrote on an FCE exam. I also showed you how candidates' writing is marked and you marked the sample email in small groups. Then I showed you the marks the examiners gave.

Here are some general remarks on your answers.

1. In the question, where Chloe writes to you, she asks you if you plan to work and travel abroad. I'd recommend you answer these questions very directly. The people marking your email will be looking to see if you answered these questions - the easier you make it for them, the better. Most of you, for example, mentioned being busy with other activities and said you needed a rest. This is good, but I'd recommend adding that you don't plan to get a job, as you're busy with those other things. Also, some of you mentioned travel, even travel to other countries, which is great, but I'd recommend using the word 'abroad' in your email as well to make it very clear, e.g. 'Last summer I was abroad quite a lot, so this summer I'm staying near home'.
2. You are expected to react to the input and to finish your email (see the boxes on p.19). It's also critical that you address your message to Chloe (not me or another person).
3. Be careful with the verb tenses you use to talk about the future. To speak about your plans and intentions, you're best of using 'be going to', present continuous or future continuous. See p.165 or ask me if you're not sure about this.

You then marked your own emails in pairs. Later I showed you my marks. Your homework is to re-write your emails.

Homework

• Using my remarks above, your book and the comments I wrote on your email and which you got from classmates, write a final draft of your email. (If you don't have your corrected email yet, just do the following work from your book.)
• p.12 ex1 - write translations of these words in Spanish or Catalan, whatever you prefer. The important thing, of course, is to learn what these English words mean.
• Study (or at least read a couple of times) parts 3 and 4 of the Use of English practice exam you did last week.