SESSION 11: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 11: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2.1 WHAT DO YOU DO? What do you do to save energy?

• Turn off lights
• Use stairs, not lifts
• Walk, don´t drive
• Energy-saving light bulbs
• Use heater / AC less
• Tell others to save energy

2.2 EXPRESS YOUR OPINION:

• I strongly believe we have run out of time to save the Earth.
• I strongly believe the Earth will survive.

2.3 SAVE: Which of these things do we need to save most? Rank them in order of most important:

• wild animals
• energy
• money
• polar ice caps
• the Amazon
• our rivers
• the seas and oceans
• vegetation
• lives

2.4 CLIMATE CHANGE DISCUSSION: Here are some questions you can try asking yourself before you come to our discussion on Wednesday:

1. What did you think when you read the headline?
2. What springs to mind when you hear the phrase 'climate change'?
3. What difference do you think Earth Hour will make to the world?
4. Do you think Earth Hour is a good idea?
5. Do you agree that Earth Hour is "too little, too late"?
6. Did you turn off the lights for Earth Hour?
7. Is Earth Hour more than a "feel-good exercise"?
8. What are the dangers of climate change?
9. What did Clive Hamilton mean when he mentioned the Titanic?
10. Have you taken part in any other climate change events?
11. How long do you think it will take people to forget about Earth Hour?
12. Do you think people around the world are actually concerned about climage change?
13. Do you think it´s possible for everyone to reduce their daily energy consumption?
14. What do you do every day to help save energy or save the planet?
15. Has your life already been affected by climate change?

PREPARING A DISCUSSION IS FUNDAMENTAL:

THIS MUST BE DONE IN TWO DIRECTIONS:

FIRST, YOU NEED TO LEARN NEW VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO USE FOR THE DISCUSSION.

SECONDLY, YOU HAVE TO PREPARE THE TOPIC BY LOOKING UP INFORMATION IN THE INTERNET, BOOKS, ENCYCLOPAEDIAS.

THIS WAY YOU WILL FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT.

FINAL TASK:

HERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO AND THIS WAY YOU WILL COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU MUST IMPROVE WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.

WRITING:

Write a composition of not more than 180 words and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 11, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions.

Choose one of the following options:

• Write an article about climate change and the future of the Earth. Include imaginary interviews with someone who thinks it´s too late to save the Earth and someone who thinks we have plenty of time.
• Express your opinion: 'Climate change is definitely going to affect the future of the Earth in many different ways.'

Our responsibility as consumers is really very important for the future of the planet and of course the future of our children. I recommend you to have a look at "Story of Stuff" by Annie Leonard:

http://www.storyofstuff.com/pdfs/annie_leonard_footnoted_script.pdf

SESSION 11: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

SESSION 11: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

1.1 TRUE/FALSE
a. T / b. T / c. F / d. T / e. T / f. F / g.F / h.F

1.2 SYNONYM MATCH
1.h / 2.f / 3.a / 4.j / 5.g / 6.d / 7.i / 8.e / 9.b / 10.c

1.3 PHRASE MATCH
1.e / 2.h / 3.i / 4.g / 5.c / 6.a / 7.d / 8.b / 9.j /10.f

1.4 GAP FILLL
GLOBE - TAKES - DANGERS - RACE - VOTE - HOPE - PROMISES - EVER

AGREES - LATE - FEEL - SINKS - RISKY - LEADS - STRESSES - SIMPLY

SESSION 11: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 11: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT


NOTE: IN ORDER TO WORK WITH THE TEXT, UNDERSTAND AND PREPARE IT BETTER I RECOMMEND THESE EXERCISES.


THERE WILL BE TWO TYPES OF EXERCISES:
1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT: THESE ARE EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE READING COMPREHENSION, WORKING WITH VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS.
2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION: EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE PREPARATION FOR THE DISCUSSION.


1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT


1.1 TRUE FALSE: Look at the article and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or False (F):
a. Many buildings will be in darkness for an hour on March 28.
b. Earth Hour is organized by the World Wildlife Fund.
c. People can vote for who they want to save the Earth.
d. Maybe one billion people will hear about Earth Hour.
e. There are quite a few people who think Earth Hour will change little.
f. A climate campaigner said the Titanic sank because of climate change.
g. Earth Hour means the Earth will make a recovery by the next morning.
h. An environmentalist said sitting in the dark is the best thing we can do.


1.2 SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. globe ........................ a. focusing on
2. takes place ................. b. instead of
3. drawing attention to ...... c. just
4. opportunity ................. d. turned
5. reach ......................... e. results in
6. switched ..................... f. happens
7. raising ........................ g. get to
8. leads to ...................... h. world
9. rather than .................. i. increasing
10. simply ....................... j. chance


1.3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):
1. buildings around the globe will be ............... a. too late
2. a way of drawing attention to the dangers...... b. has recovered a little
3. people of all ages, nationalities, ................ c. about climate change
4. Organizers hope their message will reach ..... d. good exercises
5. the largest demonstration of public concern.....e. dark for an hour
6. Many see it as a being too little, ................ f. in the dark
7. We are well past the time for feel- ............. g. a billion people
8. people will think the climate ..................... h. of climate change
9. the need to reduce our daily ..................... i. race and background
10. sitting around .................................... j. energy consumption


1.4 GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text:

VOTE - DANGERS - EVER - GLOBE - PROMISES - RACE - TAKES - HOPE

Millions of buildings around the __________ will be dark for an hour on Saturday, March 28 as the third Earth Hour __________ place. The event is organized by the World Wildlife Fund. It started in 2007 as a way of drawing attention to the __________ of climate change. The Earth Hour website says: "For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, __________ and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their __________- Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming." Organizers __________ their message will reach a billion people. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Earth Hour __________ to be "the largest demonstration of public concern about climate change __________ attempted".

LEADS - SINKS - LATE - SIMPLY - AGREES - FEEL - STRESSES - RISKY

Not everyone __________ that Earth Hour will help. Many see it as being too little, too __________ and that not much will change when the lights are switched back on. Climate campaigner Clive Hamilton says: "We are well past the time for __________ -good exercises aimed at raising awareness... It´s like the band playing on as the Titanic __________." He says the event is __________ because the next morning people will think the climate has recovered a little. "Symbolism is powerful if it __________ to action, but dangerous if it substitutes for it," he says. Environmentalist Mark Alexander-Warne agrees. He __________ the need to reduce our daily energy consumption, rather than __________ "sitting around in the dark" for an hour.

SESSION 11: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 1ST APRIL

SESSION 11: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 1ST APRIL

WORLD PREPARES TO SAVE ENERGY FOR AN HOUR

Text taken and adapted from:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

THE ARTICLE:

Millions of buildings around the globe will be dark for an hour on Saturday, March 28 as the third Earth Hour takes place. The event is organized by the World Wildlife Fund. It started in 2007 as a way of drawing attention to the dangers of climate change. The Earth Hour website says: "For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote - Switching off your lights as a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming." Organizers hope their message will reach a billion people. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Earth Hour promises to be "the largest demonstration of public concern about climate change ever attempted."

Not everyone agrees that Earth Hour will help. Many see it as being too little, too late and that not much will change when the lights are switched back on. Climate campaigner Clive Hamilton says: "We are well past the time for feel-good exercises aimed at raising awareness... It´s like the band playing on as the Titanic sinks." He says the event is risky because the next morning people will think the climate has recovered a little. "Symbolism is powerful if it leads to action, but dangerous if it substitutes for it," he says. Environmentalist Mark Alexander-Warne agrees. He stresses the need to reduce our daily energy consumption, rather than simply "sitting around in the dark" for an hour.

'World prepares to save energy for an hour' - 26th March, 2009

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

SESSION 10: TOP LIST OF MISTAKES

SESSION 10: TOP LIST OF MISTAKES

ARE USED TO READ .... ARE USED TO READING

(TO is a preposition and after prepositions we always use an -ing form)

MUST PROHIBITED .... MUST PROHIBIT

(MUST is a modal verb and after modal verbs we always use bare infinitive)

I WANT TO SPEAK .... I WANT TO SAY

(We use I want to speak when we refer to a person, e.j. 'I want to speak to the Director'. We use 'I want to say' when we want to express our opinion about something)

VERY CHEAPER .... MUCH CHEAPER

(We use 'very' as an emphasizer for adjectives but we can never use it with comparatives, we can use other emphasizers like: lightly, a lot, slightly, much...)

YOU WILL KNOW HOW WILL BE KILLED THE ANIMAL ... YOU WILL KNOW HOW THE ANIMAL WILL BE KILLED.

(This is a statement and the order of statements is always the same: subject + verb + object, even if the sentence is passive, we use the same formula)

I´M GOING TO DEATH .... I´M GOING TO DIE

(Verb: TO DIE / TO BE DEAD --- Noun: DEATH --- Noun referring to people: THE DEAD)

PEOPLE IS .... PEOPLE ARE

TWO PERSONS .... TWO PEOPLE

(Singular: Person ...... Plural : People)

These are the most outstanding mistakes I could note down the other day on our oral session. Nevertheless, I insist on the fact that you shouldn't bother too much about your mistakes. You´re all doing very well and ... NOBODY´S PERFECT!

SESSION 10: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 10: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2.1 DIETS: Are you happy with what you eat? Think of the health benefits or costs for the following types of diets. Would you be able to follow these diets or not? Why?
- Strict vegetarian
- Less strict vegetarian
- Fast food
- Meat-based
- Fruitarian
- Liquid

2.2 EXPRESS YOUR OPINION:
- I strongly believe everyone in the world should be vegetarian to save the planet.
- I strongly believe vegetarianism is totally unnecessary.

2.3 CANCER: What do you think is the best way to prevent cancer? Rank the following in order:
- vegetarian diet
- using sun screen
- exercise
- regular health checks
- avoiding cigarettes/alcohol
- not having a microwave
- living a stress-free life
- living in the countryside

2.4 VEGETARIANISM DISCUSSION.Here are some questions you can try asking yourself before you come to our discussion on Wednesday:
a. What did you think when you read the headline?
b. Did you like reading about diet and health?
c. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'vegetarian'?
d. What do you think of vegetarianism?
e. Why do you think it has taken so long to do a major study on cancer and diet?
f. Would you change your diet to avoid being ill?
g. Do you think eating meat is unhealthy?
h. What do you think of the argument that it is wrong to kill animals?
i. Are strict vegetarians healthier than vegetarians who eat dairy products and honey?
j. Have you ever changed your diet?
k. How healthy or unhealthy is your diet?
l. Should fast food restaurants offer more vegetarian choices?
m. Do you think the environment would be in a better condition if we were all vegetarians?
n. Some say eating meat makes people more violent. Do you agree?
o. do you think vegetarians are happier and healthier?

PREPARING A DISCUSSION IS FUNDAMENTAL:

THIS MUST BE DONE IN TWO DIRECTIONS:
FIRST, YOU NEED TO LEARN NEW VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO USE FOR THE DISCUSSION.
SECONDLY, YOU HAVE TO PREPARE THE TOPIC BY LOOKING UP INFORMATION IN THE INTERNET, BOOKS, ENCYCLOPAEDIAS.
THIS WAY YOU WILL FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT.

FINAL TASK:

HERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO AND THIS WAY YOU WILL COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU MUST IMPROVE WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.

WRITING:

Write a composition of not more than 180 words and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 10, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions.

Choose one of the following options:
- Write a magazine article about vegetarianism. Include imaginary interviews with a vegetarian and someone who loves meat.
- Express your opinion: "A healthy diet and life reduces disease risk"

SESSION 10: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

SESSION 10: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

1.1 TRUE/FALSE
a. T / b. F / c. F / d. T / e. F / f. T / g.T / h.T

1.2 SYNONYM MATCH
1.d / 2.e / 3.g / 4.a / 5.h / 6.b / 7.c / 8.f / 9.j / 10.i

1.3 PHRASE MATCH
1.g / 2.c / 3.h / 4.b / 5.i / 6.e / 7.d / 8.j / 9.a /10.f

1.4 GAP FILLL
FOUND - INCLUDES - STUDIES - TRACKED - SEPARATED - LOWER - THOSE - AGAINST
FINDINGS - MAJOR - REDUCTION - INCREASE - CONSCIOUS - ALTOGETHER - EXCLUDES - STRICT

SESSION 10: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 10: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

NOTE: IN ORDER TO WORK WITH THE TEXT, UNDERSTAND AND PREPARE IT BETTER I RECOMMEND THESE EXERCISES.


THERE WILL BE TWO TYPES OF EXERCISES:
1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT: THESE ARE EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE READING COMPREHENSION, WORKING WITH VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS.
2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION: EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE PREPARATION FOR THE DISCUSSION.


1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT


1.1 TRUE FALSE: Look at the article and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or False (F):
a. The article talks about a 10-year-long study into cancer.
b. The study in the article is the biggest ever to look at cancer and diet.
c. Researchers studied the health of teenagers and centenarians.
d. The study concludes that being vegetarian could benefit your health.
e. The study´s findings are not yet published anywhere.
f. A researcher said it was the first big study to look at a diet-cancer link.
g. A greater number of people around the world are becoming vegetarian.
h. Strict vegetarians should not eat cheese, yoghurt or honey.


1.2 SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. decade ................................ a. divided
2. common ............................... b. conclusions
3. tracked ................................ c. connection
4. separated ............................. d. ten years
5. protect ................................ e. widespread
6. findings ................................ f. aware
7. link ..................................... g. followed
8. conscious .............................. h. safeguard
9. altogether ............................. i. rules out
10. excludes .............................. j. completely


1.3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):
1. A decade-long ............................... a. all animal products
2. cancer is less common ...................... b. who ate meat
3. The researchers tracked the ............... c. among vegetarians
4. compared with those ....................... d. diet and cancer
5. being vegetarian could protect ............ e. have been published
6. The findings of the research ............... f. eat eggs and fish
7. look at the link between ................... g. study
8. People are becoming more and ........... h. health of 63,550 men
9. a strict vegetarian diet that excludes .... i. people against cancer
10. Less strict vegetarians ..................... j. more health conscious


1.4 GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text:


LOWER - STUDIES - SEPARATED - AGAINST - FOUND - INCLUDES - TRACKED - THOSE

A decade-long study in the United Kingdom has __________ that cancer is less common among vegetarians. Health experts have always thought that a vegetarian diet is healthier than one that __________ meat. This latest research is one of the biggest __________ to compare cancers in vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The researchers __________ the health of 63,550 men and women aged between 20 and 89. they __________ people into different groups - meat-eaters, fish-eaters, and vegetarians. The research team reported a "significantly __________" number of cancers among the fish-eaters and vegetarians compared with __________ who ate meat. The study suggests being vegetarian could protect people __________ cancer.

INCREASE - EXCLUDES - FINDINGS - ALTOGETHER - MAJOR - STRICT - REDUCTION - CONSCIOUS

The __________ of the research have been published in the March 2009 edition of the 'American Journal of Clinical Nutrition'. Lead researcher Professor Timothy Key said his study was the first __________ research to look at the link between diet and cancer. "It suggests there might be some __________ in cancers in vegetarians and fish-eaters and we need to look carefully at that," he said. Vegetarianism is on the __________ around the world. People are becoming more and more health __________ and are eating less meat, or cutting it out ________. Some people choose a strict vegetarian diet that __________ all animal products. This means no dairy products or honey. Less __________ vegetarians eat eggs and fish.

SESSION 10: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 25TH MARCH

SESSION 10: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 25TH MARCH

VEGETARIAN DIET REDUCES CANCER RISK

Text taken and adapted from:
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

THE ARTICLE:

A decade-long study in the United Kingdom has found that cancer is less common among vegetarians. Health experts have always thought that a vegetarian diet is healthier than one that includes meat. This latest research is one of the biggest studies to compare cancers in vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The researchers tracked the health of 63,550 men and women aged between 20 and 89. They separated people into different groups - meat-eaters, fish-eaters, and vegetarians. The research team reported a "significantly lower" number of cancers among the fish-eaters and vegetarians compared with those who ate meat. The study suggests being vegetarian could protect people against cancer.

The findings of the research have been published in the March 2009 edition of the 'American Journal of Clinical Nutrition'. Lead researcher Professor Timothy Key said his study was the first major research to look at the link between diet and cancer. "It suggests there might be some reduction in cancers in vegetarians and fish-eaters and we need to look carefully at that," he said. Vegetarianism is on the increase around the world. People are becoming more and more health conscious and are eating less meat, or cutting it out altogether. Some people choose a strict vegetarian diet that excludes all animal products. This means no dairy products or honey. Less strict vegetarians eat eggs and fish.

Vegetarian diet reduces cancer risk - 17th March, 2009

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

SESSION 9: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 9: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2.1 Express your opinion:
- I strongly believe dream jobs do not exist.
- I strongly believe they do exist.

2.2 Search the Internet and find out more about the dream reef job.

2.3 DREAM JOB DISCUSSION: Here are some questions you can try asking yourself before you come to our discussion on Wednesday:
- What did you think when you read the headline?
- Are you surprised about what you read in the article?
- What three adjectives would you use to describe tropical islands?
- Do you think you would be good at this job?
- What´s your dream job?
- What do you think the person chosen will write about for six months?
- Do you think the salary is about right for this job?
- Why do you think the salary is so high for this job?
- Do you have or have you had responsibilities at work?
- Have you ever been through a selection process? How did it feel?
- Do you think job interviews are useful to choose the best candidate?
- How would your life change if you got your dream job?
- Do you think people doing dream jobs, like actors, singers and sports stars, should be happier?
- Do you think there are any bad things about this job?
- Who would be better at doing this job, a dancer, chef, scientist or student?
- What kind of person would best fit this job?
- Who do you think has the best job in the world and why?

PREPARING A DISCUSSION IS FUNDAMENTAL:

THIS MUST BE DONE IN TWO DIRECTIONS:
FIRST, YOU NEED TO LEARN NEW VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO USE FOR THE DISCUSSION.
SECONDLY, YOU HAVE TO PREPARE THE TOPIC BY LOOKING UP INFORMATION IN THE INTERNET, BOOKS, ENCYCLOPAEDIAS.
THIS WAY YOU WILL FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT.

FINAL TASK:

THERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO AND THIS WAY YOU WILL COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU MUST IMPROVE WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.

WRITING:
Write a composition of not more than 180 words and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 9, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions. Choose one of the following options:
- Write an application letter for "best job in the world".
- Write a magazine article about the job on the Great Barrier Reef. Include imaginary interviews with the successful candidate three months into the position, and Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle.

SESSION 9: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

SESSION 9: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

1.1 TRUE/FALSE
a. T / b. F / c. F / d. T / e. F / f. T / g.F / h.T

1.2 SYNONYM MATCH
1.c / 2.g / 3. e / 4.a / 5.i / 6.h / 7.d / 8.j / 9.b / 10.f

1.3 PHRASE MATCH
1.g / 2.c / 3.a / 4.e / 5.h / 6.i / 7.j / 8.d / 9.f /10.b

1.4 GAP FILLL
KNOW - COAST - PROMOTE - APPLICANTS - FEED - TOURISM - LOOKING - APPLIED
PROCESS - SELECT - HOPEFUL - FORMAL - CURRENT - SLICE - NARROW - FIT

SESSION 9: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 9: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

NOTE: IN ORDER TO WORK WITH THE TEXT, UNDERSTAND AND PREPARE IT BETTER I RECOMMEND THESE EXERCISES.


THERE WILL BE TWO TYPES OF EXERCISES:
1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT: THESE ARE EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE READING COMPREHENSION, WORKING WITH VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS.
2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION: EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE PREPARATION FOR THE DISCUSSION.


1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT


1.1 TRUE FALSE: Look at the article and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or False (F):
a. The "best job in the world" is to look after a desert island.
b. One of the duties of this job is to catch and cook fish.
c. There are 15,000 species of fish living on the Great Barrier Reef.
d. More than 35,000 people applied for this wonderful job.
e. Website visitors will choose a shortlist of 10 candidates.
f. Website visitors can look at the video applications of the candidates.
g. All of the applicants for the best job in the world are Australian.
h. Tourist officials want someone who is motivated and professional.


1.2 SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. position ..............................a. post
2. look after ............................b. reduce
3. promote .............................c. job
4. mail ..................................d. choose
5. applied ..............................e. publicize
6. process ..............................f. match
7. select ................................g. care for
8. current ..............................h. method
9. narrow down .......................i. went for
10. fit ..................................j. present


1.3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):
1. a tropical island off the ....................a. off fish
2. writing a blog to promote .................b. of the applicants
3. over 1,500 species ..........................c. the area
4. The successful applicant will get a ........d. of 50
5. over 35,000 people .........................e. salary of nearly US$100,000
6. The next stage in the .......................f. of paradise
7. applications of all 50 ........................g. coast of Queensland
8. The current shortlist ........................h. applied for the job
9. they all want a slice ........................i. selection process
10. the motivation and professionalism .....j. hopeful caretakers


1.4 GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text:


LOOKING - COAST - APPLICANTS - KNOW - TOURISM - PROMOTE - APPLIED - FEED

The world will soon __________ who will get the "best job in the world". The position is for a caretaker to live on and look after a tropical island off the __________ of Queensland, Australia. Duties include relaxing on the island, which is part of the Great Barrier Reef, and writing a blog to __________ the area. Other responsibilities are to feed the fish, clean the pool and collect the mail. The job website, islandreefjob.com, tells __________: "There are over 1,500 species of fish living in the Great Barrier Reef. Don´t worry. You won´t need to __________ them all." The successful applicant will get a salary of nearly US$100,000 for the six months. Officials from Queensland´s __________ department announced on Tuesday that they were now __________ at 50 candidates. Unsurprisingly, over 35,000 people __________ for the job.

NARROW - HOPEFUL - FIT - PROCESS - CURRENT - SELECT - FORMAL - SLICE

The new stage in the selection __________ is to get the list of candidates down to 11. The tourism board will __________ ten people. Visitors to the website will choose an eleventh person. The public can look at the video applications of all 50 __________ caretakers. The eleven lucky finalists will then fly to Hamilton Island for a __________ interview. The winner will be announced on May 6, and the job starts on July 1. The __________ shortlist of 50 includes people from 22 countries. They include dancers, chefs, scientists and students and they all want a __________ of paradise. Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said there was much discussion to __________ down the list to 50. He told reporters, "it boiled down to...the motivation and professionalism of the applicants and their '__________' with the job and Tourism Queensland".

SESSION 9:TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 18TH MARCH

SESSION 9: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 18TH MARCH

50 CANDIDATES FOR 'BEST JOB IN THE WORLD

Text taken and adapted from:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

THE ARTICLE:

The world will soon know who will get the "best job in the world". The position is for a caretaker to live on and look after a tropical island off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Duties include relaxing on the island, which is part of the Great Barrier Reef, and writing a blog to promote the area. Other responsibilities are to feed the fish, clean the pool and collect the mail. The job website, islandreefjob.com, tells applicants: There are over 1,500 species of fish living in the Great Barrier Reef. Don´t worry. You won´t need to feed them all." The successful applicant will get a salary of nearly US$100,000 for the six months. Officials from Queensland´s tourism department announced on Tuesday that they were now looking at 50 candidates. Unsurprisingly, over 35,000 people have applied for the job.

The next stage in the selection process is to get the list of candidates down to 11. The tourism board will select ten people. Visitors to the website will choose an eleventh person. The public can look at the video applications of all 50 hopeful caretakers. The eleven lucky finalists will then fly to Hamilton Island for a formal interview. The winner will be announced on May 6, and the job starts on July 1. The current shortlist of 50 includes people from 22 countries. They include dancers, chefs, scientists and students and they all want a slice of paradise. Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said there was much discussion to narrow down the list to 50. He told reporters, "it boiled down to...the motivation and professionalism of the applicants and their 'fit' with the job and Tourism Queensland".

50 candidates for 'best job in the world' - 5th March, 2009

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

SESSION 8: FINAL TASK

SESSION 8: FINAL TASK

Write a composition of not more than 180 words and leave it in the blog as a comment to session 8. I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions.

WRITE A COMPOSITION TITLED: WHAT CAN PARENTS DO TO MAKE CHILDREN READ MORE.

SESSION 8: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 11TH MARCH

SESSION 8: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 11TH MARCH

CELEBRITY SCANDAL AND ANNE FRANK

Text taken from:

http://www.onestopenglish.com/

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SESSION 7: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 7: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2.1 Express your opinion:

- I strongly believe the term "Slumdog" is a terrible name to use.

- I strongly believe there´s nothing wrong with it.

2.2 VIDEO GAMES DISCUSSION: Here are some questions you can try asking yourself before you come to our discussion on Wednesday:

a. What springs to mind when you hear the word "millionaire2 associated with "slumdog"?

b. Do you think "Slumdog Millionaire" is the best name for this movie?

c. Would you like to attend the Oscars? If so, what would you do?

d. What do you think of the two children from the Mumbai slums going to the Academy Awards?

e. Can you think of any rags-to-riches stories?

f. Are you interested in who wins at the Oscars?

g. What would you like to swap your daily life for?

h. Many Mumbai people are angry at the phrase 'slumdog' because they say it is offensive. What do you think?

i. Do you like Bollywood films?

j. What do you think the child stars will think about the Oscars Ceremony?

k. Do you believe in fate?

l. What´s the best film you´ve ever seen and why?

m. Do you think the best films always get an Oscar?

PREPARING A DISCUSSION IS FUNDAMENTAL:

THIS MUST BE DONE IN TWO DIRECTIONS:

FIRST, YOU NEED TO LEARN NEW VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO USE FOR THE DISCUSSION.

SECONDLY, YOU HAVE TO PREPARE THE TOPIC BY LOOKING UP INFORMATION IN THE INTERNET, BOOKS, ENCYCLOPAEDIAS.

THIS WAY YOU WILL FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT.

FINAL TASK:
THERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO AND THIS WAY YOU WILL COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU MUST IMPROVE WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.

WRITING:

Write a composition of not more than 180 words and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 7, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions. Choose one of the following options:

- Write a film review about "Slumdog Millionaire"

- Express your opinion about how poverty is treated in this film.

SESSION 7: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

SESSION 7: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

1.1 TRUE/FALSE
a. F / b. T / c. F / d. T / e. F / f. T / g.F / h.F

1.2 SYNONYM MATCH
1.g / 2.d / 3. i / 4.b / 5.f / 6.c / 7.e / 8.j / 9.a / 10.h

1.3 PHRASE MATCH
1.c/ 2.a / 3.h / 4.f / 5.g / 6.e / 7.d / 8.j / 9.b /10.i

1.4 GAP FILLL
WAY - SLUMS - ART - POOREST - LEAST - SWAP - RICHES - ENQUIRIES
EXCITED - RUP - CARPET - WAIT - FATE - SCARED - ROMANCE - REAL