SESSION 1: A SONG

SESSION 1: A SONG
DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL: STOLEN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j82FBbgpUy4

Lyrics, this version of the song is slower:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv_q8WPro0Y

HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SONG!

SESSION 1: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 1: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2.1 TOURISM: How can a country encourage it? Give ideas to increase tourism in relation to the following topics:

• Visa charges
• Airport arrivals
• Information
• Entry charges to sites
• Language
• Security

2.2 HOLIDAYS: What´s important to take with you? Rank these from the most important to the least important:

• a book
• your iPhone or iPod
• First aid kit
• Compass
• Family photos
• Food
• Games
• A raincoat

2.3 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 ‘visa’?
b) Why do you think countries charge for visas?
c) What do you think of the USA’s decision to charge Europeans for visas?
d) Do you think all visas should be free?
e) Have you had any trouble getting a visa?
f) Do you think America charging Europeans for a visa will affect tourism?
g) Do you think visas should become a thing of the past?
h) What are the good and bad things about visas?
i) Did you know about this news before? When and where did you hear about it?
j) Do you think there are too many questions on visa application forms?
k) If you had a criminal record, would you write it on a visa application form?
l) Would you lie to get a visa?
m) How many people write down they are spies, terrorists, mass murderers on visa application forms? Don´t you think it´s a stupid question to ask?
n) Isn’t $14 really a very small price to pay to enter a country?
o) Would you urgently get a free visa to save $14?
p) What’s the most you’d pay for a visa?

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 IN ORDER TO COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.

Write a composition and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 1, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions.

• Tourism is fundamental for the economy of a country. Express your opinion on all the possible ways countries have to encourage tourism.

SESSION 1: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

SESSION 1: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

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

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


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


1.4 GAP FILL:
CHARGE - ANGERED - CURRENT - REVIEW- INCONSISTENT - MOBILITY - HARM - PEANUTS 


REQUIRES - SERIES - WHETHER - ABUSES - INVOLVED - APPLY - ADVISED - FILL

SESSION 1: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 1: 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) Europeans must soon start paying $14 for a visit to the U.S.A.

b) American citizens must also pay to enter European Union Countries.

c) An E.U. official suggested the charge broke American promises.

d) Many Europeans said they would pay for the visa using peanuts.

e) Europeans visiting the US must fill in a form on the Internet.

f) Europeans need to tell US authorities if they are drug abusers.

g) The USA hasn´t yet put questions about sprying on the application form.

h) People have another two years before the visa charge takes effect.

1.2 SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1. fee ....................... a. espionage

2. angered .................. b. at odds with

3. review ................... c. fill in

4. inconsistent ............. d. maddened

5. peanuts .................. e. infectious

6. complete ................ f. in force

7. communicable .......... g. charge

8. spying .................... h. immediately

9. effective ................ i. change

10. right away ............. j. small change

1.3 PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from this article (sometimes more than one option is possible):

1. charge travellers a $14 .................. a. apply for a free ESTA now

2. Under current ............................. b. thousands spent on a vacation

3. some nations may ........................ c. they have criminal records

4. facilitate transatlantic ................... d. fee for an electronic visa

5. peanuts compared with the ............. e. disease

6. complete an online ....................... f. mobility

7. a communicable .......................... g. review this

8. answer questions about whether ....... h. from September 8th

9. The charge becomes effective ......... i. rules

10. Travel agencies suggest travellers ... j. application form

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

MOBILITY - REVIEW - ANGERED - HARM - PEANUTS - CHARGE - INCONSISTENT - CURRENT

Plans by the United States to __________ travellers a $14 fee for an electronic visa to enter the country have __________ European countries. American authorities have decided to start charging for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), which had been free. Under __________ rules, American citizens can enter European Union (EU) countries without charge, although some nations may __________ this. An EU official, Cecilia Malmstrom, said the new requirement is "__________ with the commitment of the US to facilitate transatlantic __________" and will __________ America´s tourism industry. Many people feel a $14 charge is __________ compared with the thousands spent on vacation.

INVOLVED - WHETHER - ADVISED - REQUIRES - FILL - APPLY - SERIES - ABUSES

The ESTA system __________ tourists and business people to complete an online application form. There are a __________ of detailed questions about the potential visitor´s private life and personal history. These include __________ the applicant has a communicable disease, a physical or mental disorder or __________ drugs. People also have to answer questions about whether they have criminal records, or have been __________ in spying, terrorism or genocide. The charge becomes effective from September 8th. Travel agencies suggest travellers __________ for a free ESTA now because it lasts two years. Martin Lewis from the MoneySavingExpert.com website __________: "Anyone [thinking of] going to the USA should urgently go and __________ in their ESTA right away."

SESSION 1: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER

SESSION 1: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER

EUROPEANS MUST NOW PAY TO VISIT USA

Text taken and adapted from:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

The text:

Plans by the United States to charge travellers a $14 fee for an electronic visa to enter the country have angered European countries. American authorities have decided to start charging for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), which had been free. Under current rules, American citizens can enter European Union (EU) countries without charge, although some nations may review this. An EU official, Cecilia Malmstrom, said the new requirement is “inconsistent with the commitment of the US to facilitate transatlantic mobility” and will harm America’s tourism industry. Many people feel a $14 charge is peanuts compared with the thousands spent on a vacation.
The ESTA system requires tourists and business people to complete an online application form. There are a series of detailed questions about the potential visitor’s private life and personal history. These include whether the applicant has a communicable disease, a physical or mental disorder or abuses drugs. People also have to answer questions about whether they have criminal records, or have been involved in spying, terrorism or genocide. The charge becomes effective from September 8th. Travel agencies suggest travelers apply for a free ESTA now because it lasts 2 years. Martin Lewis from the MoneySavingExpert.com website advised: "Anyone [thinking of] going to the USA should urgently go and fill in their ESTA right away.”

Europeans must now pay to visit USA - 9th August, 2010

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

SESSION 1: YEAR 2010-2011

SESSION 1: YEAR 2010-2011

Hi followers!

Be ready to receive new articles and exercises by the end of this week.

We will start with our oral sessions on 29th September, 2010

Hope to hear from all of you soon!