Read this now!

You will shortly be recieving this letter in class with information on an online English programme. Please note that if you do not reply to the letter you will recieve publicity from the online program providers. If you cannot come to class this week, please read the letter now.

Writing correction codes

To correct your writing, you'll need to refer to these codes. 

Writing correction code © BBC | British Council 2007

WW = Wrong word           As our plane flew on the mountains we saw snow.
WT = Wrong time              As our plane flew over the mountains we see snow.
WF = Wrong form             As our plane flew over the mountains we was seeing snow.
WO = Wrong order           As our plane over the mountain flew we saw snow.
SP =  Spelling                    As our plane flue over the mountains we saw snow.
P = Punctuation                 As our plane flew over the mountains; we saw snow.
X = Extra word                 As our plane flew over to the mountains we saw snow.
M =  Missing word            As our plane flew over the mountains saw snow.
R = Register                      As our plane flew over the mountains we observed snow.
? = Not clear                     As our plane flew over the mountains we saw snow.
! = Silly mistake!               As our plane flew over the mountains we seed snow.
RW = Try re-writing         Our vehicle flies, we snow find, over mountains you saw it.

Class 21.11.14

Class 21.11.14

In this class we studied SB P.61 - 63, + 106 & 109

Grammar:

Word building - prefixes.
SB, p.61, Ex.3

+ SB p.106 & 109

Reading:

'Our Digital World.'
SB p.60

Vocabulary:

The internet.

The telephone.

Speaking: 

How we use the internet.

Telephone dialogues.

Using prefixes.

Listening:

Telephone conversations.
SB p.60Ex. 2

Stress and rhythm (3)
SB p.63

Homework:

WB p: 38 & 39

Passives: Theory & practice.

Here are two links from 'Perfect English Grammar' to help you understand how to form and use the passive.

The passive explained:

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/passive.html

Practice activities:

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/passive-exercises.html

Let me know what you thought of them.
Tom.

What's a 'particle'?

Term: Particles

Definition:

---

A particle is a word that does not fit into the conventional grammaticalcategories the word 'to' can act as a preposition describing direction; she's gone to Antwerp. When 'to' is used with a verb in the infinitive, 'to abide' 'to do' etc., it is a particle, satisfying a grammatical function, but without an easily defined meaning. The term is also often employed for the words that make up a phrasal verb. This is because words that are familiar as prepositions, which link words, are functioning in a different manner:

The plane took off an hour late. ('off' changes the meaning of the verb but is not linking words or expressing direction, location, time or possession, which it would if it were acting as a preposition. Hence many people prefer to call words like this particles in phrasal verbs.)

See Also: Prepositional Phrase; Complex Preposition

Class 14.11.14

Class 14.11.14

In this class we studied SB P.58 - 60, + 106 & 109

Grammar:

Present perfect simple Vs continuous

Action Vs stative verbs

Nouns for people Vs things. + Adjectives

Vocabulary:

Business and trade

Speaking: 

Things that have changed in the last 5 years.

Business and trade

Writing:

Things that have changed in the last 5 years.

Homework:

Action Vs Stative verbs (See blog entry this a.m., below. Bring a copy to class.)

WB p: 36 & 37

HOMEWORK: Action verbs Vs State (stative) verbs

Let me introduce you to Seonaid, (it's pronounced "shona"). She's created a website called 'Perfect English Grammar' to help us with all those tricky grammar questions.
Here, she's given us a little video to explain how stative verbs are used, and to help us decide when to use the action or stative form of verbs that can fall into both categories. 
She's also provided a pretty comprehensive list of stative verbs, as well as stative/action verbs.

Stative verbs: explanations and homework activity.

Here's the link to all you need to know about stative verbs:

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/stative-verbs.html

And here's the link to check how much you understood: (Remember to think about whether you shouls use the present simple or the continuous.)

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/stative-verbs-exercise.html

Print or copy your answers, and bring them to class next Friday.

BBC Learning English

We mentioned BBC Learning English in class, so here's a link to two of the features on the site:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/witn/ep_141001

'Words in the news' offers short videos with the complete transcripts and a glossary for less common words and phrases, so you get a lot of support. It also offers you the chance to practice, working with the vocabulary in context.

Here's another of my favourites, ideal for a trip abroad. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/multimedia/london/

In this interactive page you can read, listen and practice the key vocabulary of all 6 areas listed below:
 

 

Unit 1: Transport 

 

Unit 2: Hotel 

 

Unit 3: Cinema 

 

Unit 4: Shopping 

 

Unit 5: Work 

 

Unit 6: Eating Out

Check it out, you'll like it.