4 things today!

I hope you have all seen the great film about the life of Nelson (and Winnie) Mandela and his long walk to freedom.

Remember to write a reflection about an event in his life which was significant for his final destiny (max 100 words)

Today we are going to do four things:-

1. An assessment of the course ONLINE

www.leksand.se/kurs

Please log in and follow the instructions

2. Return the text books to the library

3. 4 Candy tests are available...

The usual rules- first all correct entry on First Class wins

Here they are

1. Quiz number 8

2. Quiz number 9

3. Quiz number 10

4. Quiz- term in review

4. We will have a look at your National Test essay today very briefly

Next Tuesday is the Free Air Day (Fresh air) and hence no class.

Next Friday (and the following Tuesday) will be our opportunity to talk about your grade and see the entire National Test..

Don't end up in the stocks this week-end

Film today and Tuesday

Today and Tuesday we are going to watch a feature film about the life of a famous person.

During each half of the film I want you to choose one event which had a big impact on the life of this person and write about 100 words explaining what happened and how this affected the person and the circumstances at that time

No lesson tomorrow

Don't forget that you have No English class tomorrow!

Compensation for Reading and Listening.

Our National test is on Wednesday in 1203 at 8 a.m.

No class today- compensation for the test on THURSDAY

Should we get involved and speaking (NP)

How many ( if any) of you saw the documentary in the series called "Dox" last night about Edward Snowden?

The title of the film is "CitizenFour"

I can really recommend it as a preparation for our topic in the Writing examination- Should we get involved?

The documentary is a very intimate picture of Edward Snowden- filmed in a hotel room in Hong Kong together with two investigative journalists and where the famous Snowden interview is filmed....

Otherwise today you need to read the articles in the handout and discuss them.

Check out especially the initial questions on the first page and make a word list of key words on the different topics.

At the same time there are seven people who have the last opportunity today to do the "Speaking" examination- on the topic of respect.

This is our last lesson before you will do the Writing examination next Thursday..

Use it very sensibly. I will be rotating between the classroom and the language lab (Lingotek). So, ask questions if you need help..

Same procedure as last time!

See Tuesday's blog!
 At the beginning of the lesson we will distribute the preparation material for the WRITING part of the National Test.

Today and Tuesday you will have the opportunity to read the texts and discuss them with your classmates.

These handouts are PERSONAL and have to be signed out. They must be returned at the beginning of the WRITING test.

Today at least 8 people need to do the speaking.

First come first served!

Three alternatives- all good

Today you have three alternatives for the English class.

Alternative 1
Since the Lingotek is free today there is an opportunity to do the Speaking part of the National Test (max. 8 people- 4 pairs)- First come first served.

Alternative 2 is concerned with your report. Remember you should use AT LEAST one English source..

If you are getting to the end of the Report then it is time to start writing your abstract. Here are some helpful links:

http://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Abstract

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/656/1/

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/abstracts/

Your abstract should be written in correct neutral English and with the focus on the material and not on YOU. 

Alternative 3 is to prepare for the rest of the national test by working on past papers and exercises:

Here is the link:
http://nafs.gu.se/prov_engelska/exempel_provuppgifter/engelska_6_exempeluppg

and some more information to help you:-

http://www.studienet.se/nationella-prov/engelska/6

Resource pages

Today we will continue to go through the rest of the resource pages in Context 2. How did you get on with the two exercises about the idioms?

Idioms give spice to the language.. but they give two problems:-

1. Translation
"It's raining cats and dogs"
"She's having kittens"


2. Register
Some idioms can be used in more formal situations but many have to be used in less formal circumstances...

Let us look at the execises 8 and 9 from Context 2.

Revision

• What did we say about strategies for language learning?

Give some examples

• What did we say about learning vocabulary? 

Register?  Context?

• Why is it important to be a critical reader? (Quote on page 225)

Today we are going to look at the three remaining language areas:

Writing

Descriptive writing--- Look at the example on page 233

Reflective writing-- look at page 236-7  (This is where you comment or expand facts with your own comments and views)

Discussion Essay-- Look at page 239 (This is the most important area to use for the national test)

Check thru' the points

Letters and emails

Formal and informal

See the examples on page 242 /243

Listening

Always examine the purpose for your listening

• general understanding
• specific information
• feed-back
• entertainment

Native speakers

Different areas have different accents and are easier/harder to understand (see page 247)

Listening with a purpose

Check out 2 areas from those mentioned on page 248-249

Speaking

Key concepts

Know your PURPOSE and know your LISTENER

See task 34 on page 252

Presentations

Excellent advice on page 254

Debates  (more formal English)

On page 257 there are some instructions about running a debate

Interviews

Really important for your Final Year Project

See page 259

Formal Interviews

Job and college entrance interviews.. Good information on page 260-61

Interview and Resource pages

Welcome back to our first English lesson after the Easter break.

We start off with a short interview concerning your Easter holiday.

We will do it on paper to get you out of the digital world for a while!

Here are the questions:

Easter  break

1. Where did you spend the Easter holidays ? Did you travel at all?

2. In what way (if any) did you use the time to practice sports/ recreation ?

3. Describe the most boring day of the break.

4. Describe the best day of the break.

5. What was the best/ worst thing about your holiday ?

6. How does it feel like to be back at school ?

7. Do you think the break was too short / just right /  too long ?

8. How much English did you hear/ speak during the break ? (explain!)

9, What traditions (if any) do you and your family have which are associated with Easter?

10. If you compare Easter and Christmas which one feels more relevant to you and why?

The rest of the lesson we will go through the first half of the "Resource pages" in the Context book.
Don't forget last year's resources which are available online
https://gleerupsportal.se/
or
www.gleerupslms.se

Today we will look at general language learning areas and the kind of learner you might be.

How to search in a meaningful way is also a good resource

Then we will move on to talk about the following areas:


Reading

Acquiring vocabulary 

Writing

On Friday we will look at:-

Listening

Speaking

Realia

3 good reasons!

Today I want you to start off by taking a few minutes to talk to your neighbour- in front of you or behind you about your plans for the Easter holiday.

What special celebrations ( if any) do you normally have at Easter?
Do you have any family tradition connected with the Easter Egg ?

Then we have three good ways of using the rest of the class.

1. Your Human Rights Report
As you know from the Report instruction, you need to:

• Use at least one creditable English source (see Friday's blog)

• Write an abstract in English

Today you have an opportunity to work on this

2. Context (Free)

According to the term planner this lesson could be used to work with a text in the text book, reading, listening, discussing, writing or working on the vocabulary and grammar

3. National Test Practice
As the National test is approaching it can be a good idea to work on the different parts of the national test

Here is the internet address:
http://nafs.gu.se/prov_engelska/exempel_provuppgifter/engelska_6_exempeluppg

The most important thing is to "Carpe diem"- seize the day and make use of this time wisely.

I wish you all a happy Easter!

Presentations, speaking and human rights

Today we continue with the presentations from last time. (see Tuesday's blog)

Hopefully we will get through most of the others today...

Then there is an opportunity for some people to do the National test exam in speaking today. We begin straight away with that.

Finally you have an assignment where you will write a report about human rights:

Here is the instruction

Sam 2

Rapport - Mänskliga rättigheter

Syftet med arbetsområdet är att du ska bredda, fördjupa och utveckla dina kunskaper om människors livsvillkor och de mänskliga rättigheterna utifrån ett vetenskapligt förhållningssätt.

Du tilldelas ett land i världen och ett syfte till rapporten: ”I vilken mån uppfyller landet de mänskliga rättigheterna?”

Din uppgift är att utifrån syftet formulera frågeställningar och välja en lämplig metod och därefter författa en rapport.

Arbetet ske inom ramen för samhällskunskap, svenska och engelska.

Resultatdelen får (exklusive figurer) omfatta maximalt 8 sidor text.

Inlämning ??? OBS! Rapporten ska inlämnas i pappersformat (tre ex) och digitalt till respektive lärare (samhällskunskap, svenska och engelska).

Krav för E (samtliga ämnen):

Du använder den rapportmall skolan tillhandahåller.

Du använder minst en seriös engelsk källa och formulerar en sammanfattning (abstract) på engelska.

Here are some internet resources:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Pages/ListOfIssues.aspx

http://www.globalissues.org/issue/137/human-rights-issues

http://www.hrw.org/topics

Presentation Day, Quizzes and speaking

Today is presentation day.

As usual your presentations will be filmed for the purposes of marking. You will have a bit of time at the beginning of the lesson to get things organized.

There are three new quizzes on the blog today in case you have time over..

The usual rules apply.... First CORRECT answer sent on FC (not Gmail) will receive a prize.

Finally on Friday there is the opportunity for eight intrepid souls to do the speaking part of the National Test..
 test
The theme is respect.. Only  apply if you plan to be well-prepared.

The first four pairs that sign-up on First Class will have the chance to do the speaking test


Presentations done
Marcus, Zinhle, Nils   Gap year in Tuscany

Petronella, Elvira, Simone (Denise)   Space

Jennifer, maja, Johanna   Sweden in Soroti

Aleksandra, William (Tobias)    Sweden in Soroti

Presentations to be done
Elisabeth, Elin, Sana, Hannes           Backpacking

Jonna, Clara, Linnea                          Skate

Erik, Patricia, Erik                             ??

Jesper, Max                                     Sweden in Soroti

Project work

Today we continue with our project. Some kind of presentation on Tuesday!!!!

Those who are groupless need to organise themselves QUICKLY and get something happening

Project week- Presentation next Tuesday

First of all Happy St. Patrick's Day
http://www.wikihow.com/Celebrate-St.-Patrick%27s-Day
We start off today by distributing a worksheet about Respect

This is the topic for the speaking exam in the national test. Some of the other classes will be doing it this week. As you know from the planner we have scheduled the speaking for week 17.

This week on the planner it says:
"Group work/Project"

You need to do an English based study this week and present it in some shape or form next Tuesday.

Instructions

• Groups of 3-4 students

• Divide the work

• Present your results for class next Tuesday

Suggestions

Backpacker
It's time for you to graduate from school. You and some friends enjoyed your trip to Uganda so much that you want to go back and do a backpacker journey. Your air ticket is paid and you have $1100 for your trip. You plan to stay in Uganda two weeks and visit Soroti and a national park.
So go in and get planning.
You have to think about food, travelling and accommodation costs.

Sweden in Soroti
You have heard that when you will be in Uganda that you are going to give a presentation about life in Sweden for the Ugandan students.

Divide up some relevant topics in your group and prepare them.
Your class mates (next Tuesday)will be the guinea pigs for you to present for.

Volunteer
You were so taken by the film about Rocky that you have decided to go out as a volunteer in a project.
Check out at least one volunteer project in Asia and in Africa.
Compare them and say which one you would like to do and why

Gap Year
You are going to present for your classmates some of the possibilities for a gap year after High School in English speaking environments

These are only suggestions. However, by 8.40 you need to have decided:

• who you are working with
• on what

Good luck!

My son the fanatic- finish off. Discussions and roleplays

Today you will have the opportunity to finish off the exercises about Chapter 5.

The exercises were:

page 67-68

D,E,F

page 70
H- Discussions. Give your opinion about the statements

Web
Exercises 
Vocabulary 1 & 2

Then we will go over to some discussions and role plays.

Here are two addresses for discussions:

Work in 2-3 students

http://www.tedpower.co.uk/discuss.html

and

http://iteslj.org/questions/

Work on one topic from each resource.

Finally in groups of THREE do these simple role plays:

http://www.eslcafe.com/idea/index.cgi?display:1141640364-4283.txt

Have a good week-end!

Chapter 5- My son the fanatic

Today we are going to listen to a short story which is very topical.

It is taking place in almost all the major cities in the Western world.

We have seen its results in Paris, in Stockholm and in many other places.

This story is set in London.

We are going to listen to the whole story.

Then I want you to work in three areas:

1. Vocabulary and words
Wordlist 25 words

2. Text book- Discussions and language exercises

page 67, 68 Exercises D,E, F 
Discussion questions p. 70-  
H What do you think?

3. The online resources from www.gleerupslms.se

Vocabulary 1  Vocabulary 2

Good luck!

Welcome back!

Welcome back after your mid-term break. Hope you had a good time and have recharged your batteries.

Today we had planned to start with Chapter 5 in the Context book.

However, we will wait until Friday to do that...

Today I want to start off by getting you to write a couple of sentences about your break (holiday). Try to write something that was unique for you.

After that we will watch a film which was definitely the high point of my holiday...

It is about a young man who dedices to help kids who are HIV positive in a home in India.

Afterwards write a short comment here on the blog about your reactions to the film

Finish off chapter 4

Today we are going to finish off Chapter 4 "Two per cent"

1. Make sure you have done your wordlist

2. Answer the questions from the blog

3. Complete the answers for the exercises on the web
www.gleerupslms.se

Today, you can do the language exercises IN THE BOOK on page 51 and 52 F, G, I

Here are the answers:
F.  1a   2c   3b   4a  5c  6b

G. Opposites
1c    2d    3h   4b   5m    6f    7j    8l
9o    10g   11i    12n    13q    14p  15r
16e   17k  18a

I Phrases
1. With/to/Towards
2. Towards/of
3. to
4. out:in
5. of
6. up
7. of

I will give you the answers at the end of the lesson

Finally you get a request from your pen friend in Uganda who wants to know about your roots, your family name and your ancestors.

What would you be able to tell them?

Finally!Have a good holiday!

Two per cent lesson 2

Today we continue working with the story in chapter 4 "Two per cent"

As you hopefully guessed, the text is a short story- complete in itself.

Is there a twist?

Well- not like in Archer's stories?

What then is the twist in this story?

Today I want you to do two things while I will talk to you about the results of the Archer test and Reading /Listening mock national tests.

Just for information here are the grade levels as given by Skolverket:

A = 79-88
B=  70-78
C=  57-69
D=  46-56
E=  31-45  (35% was a pass that year!)
F=  0-34

1. I want you to have a wordlist with sentences complete by the end of the lesson

2. Work on the web
www.gleerupslms.se

If you have forgotten your password get them to send a new one..
Your email address is your FC address

Go in on the web and do the 4 exercises which are there for this chapter....

Just remember... Big brother (or maybe sister!) is watching you!!

Planner, work completion and Context

Today we will start off by going briefly through the term planner.

As you can see a lot of lessons disappear for different reasons.

Marko Sandelin usually says that every cancelled lesson prolongs a teacher's life!

If you missed a part of the National Test or the Archer test you have the last chance today.

Next Tuesday when you are working on the Context text I will go through your results individually.

Back to today. You are going to work on chapter 4 "Two per cent"

By the end of the lesson you should have read the text and sent in the answers to the following questions:

Where and when do you think the text is set?

What is the text about?

Who are the main characters?

Do you think the text is free-standing or part of a longer work? (Motivate your answer)

What do you know about the author?

Finally do the comprehension questions- exercise A on page 49

Christina Rosenthal

Today we are going to study "Christina Rosenthal" .

We will begin by looking at the test questions which were on the blog from last class....

Here are some sentences from the story with mistakes in..

Please correct them:-

In the sentences below there are one or more errors of one kind or another. Correct the sentences!

1.     The old man had even begin too hope the boy might become a rabbi.

2.     It cost me three week’s pocket money…

3.     I took the suit to the cleeners the next morning.

4.     …it only took a fleeting glance to see that it was Greg Reynolds which were standing bye her side.

5.     Of course was you right, but i was only seventeen then…

6.     It were to be many year’s before I understand your strength.

7.     I turned to went in to the changing room – a split second before I hitted the water.

8.     I knew if I waiting an moment longer, I shouldn’t have the courage to go through with it.

9.     You was there to watching me but, thank heavens, she wasen’t.

10.                   That last weak of term I broked the school record for the mile.

Here is a short translation exercise

Translation exercise

1  Historien handlar om kärleken mellan en judisk pojke och en kristen flicka.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3  När hon skiljer sig från sin man, förlorar hon sitt barn. __________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4  Historien är inte så enkel och ”genomskinlig” som man kan tro (från början). ___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5  Han berättar för sin far om sin kärlek till Christina,vars far var officer i den tyska armén

under andra världskriget. _______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6  En dag får han syn på Christina, en mycket snygg (söt) flicka i samma ålder som han.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Next Tuesday will be the test on the 5  Archer stories we have studied.

Next Friday we will go through the new planner together

Archer revision

On Friday we are going to complete the last story which we 

are studying from ´Jeffrey Archer's collection " Twist in the 

Tale".



 Here are some questions to think about as you read 


"Christina Rosenthal"

What is special and different about this story compared 

to all the others in the collection?


How did you find the ending? What were your reactions? 


What does it say about Benjamin's father?







Next Tuesday there will be a test on Archer. It will consist of 

two parts.


1. The content and themes of the individual stories.



a)Comprehension questions
b) themes
c) Words from the specialised word lists (For Perfect
Murder, A La Carte and Clean Sweep Ignatius) 


2. A short essay question about a general topic such as.
a) the twists
b) the characters
c) Stories you have liked or disliked and why
d) the autobiographical nature of some of the stories 

.
Here is a document with study questions to help you to 

prepare for the test.



You might like to look at this. It's a Word document with 

some ideas about the general themes in the stories.

Otherwise it's only to re-read the stories and make sure you 

know them.

The stories we have studied are the following:

The Perfect Murder

Clean Sweep Ignatius

A La Carte

Just Good Friends


Here is a document about Jeffrey Archer's life

Book talks and other animals

So, hopefully after over five months you have completed your book.

A few students did their talk before Christmas. This week is the deadline for the talks. You will do the talk in small groups and discuss with each other about the plot, characters and relevance of your book.

I will send a worksheet around to be filled in.

Otherwise this week it is to practise for the mock reading ands listening next week

Listening on Tuesday- Reading on Friday.

Good resources are to be found on Mr, Smedjeback's blog (see earlier blog entry) and at the following address:-

http://nafs.gu.se/prov_engelska/exempel_provuppgifter

Not finished with the planner yet but basically the next few weeks look like this:

week 4   book talks

week 5  Reading & listening National Test

week 6  Finish off Archer- Christine Rosenthal

week 7 Tuesday- Archer test

Courage and A la Carte

First of all a really good resource that I can recommend for you:-

https://smedjeback.wordpress.com/

Today we are going to talk about the essay on courage.

While we are doing this there are three work sheets to do about A La Carte

1. Discussion Questions- Here is the Link

2. Discussion questions for the story. Here is the link

3. Words to do with food/food preparation:here is the link.

So, don't sit around.. Get on with it!

Read A la Carte by Friday (Archer)

Please read A la Carte by Friday.

The mp3 files for listening are here.

Start  after 6 minutes and 10 seconds on this file.

Then go on to this one!

Finally listen to 4 minutes and 29 seconds here!

Welcome back to 2015

Well? Did you get your presents on Christmas Eve?
This year I got about 100 wordlists for Christmas. Thanks!
You will get them back by Friday!

Here is the Bruce Springsteen version of the famous song about the man who brings the presents.


We start off today with two role plays which will be done in pairs.
They are both connected with the song above.

Then we are going to do an exercise with a worksheet which I will hand out.

Our final part of the introduction is to write comments on the following document and mail them in to me. There needs to be an explanatory comment for each heading.

Dates to be noted.
Week 3
 This Friday 16th January- planning in small groups, Archer and individual grade talk

Week 4
Archer, book talks

Week 5
Reading /Listening "Mock" National Test