SESSION 15: A SHORT - PART 2

SESSION 15: A SHORT

THE BUTTERFLY CIRCUS - PART 2

SESSION 15: A SHORT - PART 1

SESSION 15: A SHORT

THE BUTTERFLY CIRCUS - PART 1

SESSION 15: A SONG

SESSION 15: A SONG

JOHN DENVER & PLACIDO DOMINGO: PERHAPS LOVE

PERHAPS LOVE - Lyrics
Perhaps love is like a resting place
A shelter from the storm
It exists to give you comfort
It is there to keep you warm
And in these times of trouble
When you are most alone
The memory of love will bring you home

Perhaps love is like a window
Perhaps an open door
It invites you to come closer
It wants to show you more
and even if you lose yourself
And don´t know what to do
The memory of love will see you through

Oh, love to some is like a cloud
To some as strong as steel
For some a way of living
For some a way to feel
Ans some say love holding on
And some say letting go
And some say love is everything
And some say they don´t know

Perhaps love is like the ocean
Full of conflict, full of pain
Like a fire when its cold outside
Or thunder when it rains
If I should live forever
And all my dreams come true
My memories of love will be of you

And some say love is holding on
And some say letting go
And some say love is everything
And some say they don´t know

Perhaps love is like the ocean
Full of conflict, full of pain
Like a fire when it´s cold outside
Or thunder when it rains
If I should live forever
And all my dreams come true
My memories of love will be of you

SESSION 15: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 15: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2.1 PREDICTING: Which is the best system of predicting our personality and character?

• star signs
• handwriting
• bloodtype
• tea leaves
• palm reading
• crystal ball
• personality test
• fortune cookies

2.2 ZODIAC 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) What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘zodiac’?

c) What do you think of the thirteenth sign?

d) What is the Zodiac for?

e) What do you know about the Earth’s relationship with the stars?

f) What would change if we had 13 star signs in the Zodiac?

g) Why has this news only come out now?

h) Do you believe in star signs?

i) How might changes in the Earth’s orbit affect our lives?

j) What’s the difference between astrology and astronomy ?

k) Are you worried the Zodiac system might change?

l) What does your star sign say about you?

m) Do you ever believe what horoscopes say?

n) Why do you think people started using star signs to predict our future?

o) Do you think people can predict the future accurately?

p) Do you believe in things like palm reading and determining personality by blood type?

q) Do you think Susan Miller is right?

r) What questions would you like to ask professor Parke Kunkle?

s) Do you know any famous astrologer in your country? Is he reliable?

2.3 THE NEW ZODIAC CHART:

Capricorn: Jan. 20 - Feb. 16

Aquarius: Feb. 16 - March 11

Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18- May 13
Taurus: May 13- June 21
Gemini: June 21- July 20
Cancer: July 20- Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10- Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16- Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30- Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23- Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29- Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17- Jan. 20
Has your Zodiac sign changed with the new Zodiac chart?
Listen to the VIDEO:
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/new-zodiac-sign-chart-ophiuchus-jan-13-2011

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 15, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions. Choose one of these two options:

• What does your starsign say about you?
• Write an anecdote you had with one of the different techniques used for predicting the future: palm reading, cards, etc...

SESSION 15: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

SESSION 15: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

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

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

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

1.4 GAP FILL:
TURNED - WOBBLY - RELATIONSHIP - INCLUDE - SIGN - DATES - RECENT - SINCE

CAUSED - UPSET - PREDICT - HARVEST - DETERMINE - CALLED - AGES - HARD

SESSION 15: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 15: 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 zodiac system is three millennia old.

b. Earth’s relationship to the stars has changed in the past 3,000 years.
c. A thirteenth sign would not change the dates of our current star signs.
d. Astronomers have only recently found out about the thirteenth sign.
e. Some people with the Virgo star sign might really be Leo.
f. Star signs were originally to predict harvest times, not horoscopes.
g. A popular astrologer said the news was fantastic.
h. She said her star signs show she has 140 characters.

1.2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. on its head .......... a. found out
2. wobbly .............. b. comforted
3. determined ......... c. worried
4. new .................. d. wonky
5. shocked ............. e. forecast
6. upset ................ f. upside down
7. predict .............. g. stupid
8. reassured ............ h. fresh
9. ridiculous ............ i. quipped
10. joked ............... j. astounded

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

1. turned the astrology world ..... a. the Earth’s orbit

2. the Earth's wobbly .............. b. go to war
3. the ancient Babylonians ........ c. of this news
4. changes in ........................ d. horoscope writers
5. his recent announcement ....... e. on its head
6. life might change because ..... f. has shocked people
7. star signs were never meant ... g. determined the dates
8. provide an income to ........... h. for ages
9. determine when to ............. i. orbit
10. We've known about this ...... j. to predict our future

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

RECENT - RELATIONSHIP - TURNED - SINCE -SIGN - WOBBLY - INCLUDE - DATES

An astronomy professor has (1) ____________ the astrology world on its head by suggesting the 3,000-year-old zodiac system is wrong. Professor Parke Kunkle said the Earth's (2) ____________ orbit means things have changed in the past three millennia and now has a different (3) ____________ to the stars. He said the ancient Babylonians determined the dates of the Zodiac and decided not to (4) ____________ a thirteenth sign called Ophiuchus. He believes the changes in the Earth’s orbit now mean this (5) ____________ must be included in the Zodiac. This would change all of the (6) ____________ we are used to with our star signs and many of us would have a new one. Professor Kunkle is surprised his (7) ____________ announcement has shocked people: "Astronomers have known about this (8) ____________ about 130BC," he said.

CALLED - HARVEST - UPSET - HARD - DETERMINE - AGES - CAUSED - PREDICT

The story has (9) ____________ millions around the world to worry their life might change because of this news. People who were happy at being a Virgo are (10) ____________ because they are now Leos. Kunkle says people should not be worried because star signs were never meant to (11) ____________ our future or provide an income to horoscope writers, saying: "You could predict when to (12) ____________, when to plant, by the stars. So there is some predictive nature there. Then they took it too far, using it to (13) ____________ when to go to war and people's personalities." Popular astrologer Susan Miller has reassured people they needn’t worry and (14) ____________ the news "ridiculous." In an interview with ABC News, she joked: "We've known about this for (15) ____________ ….Trying to explain something technical in 140 characters [on Twitter] is (16) ____________."

SESSION 15: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 2ND FEBRUARY

SESSION 15: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 2ND FEBRUARY

THERE ARE 13 SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC, EXPERT SAYS



Text taken and adapted from:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

The text:

An astronomy professor has turned the astrology world on its head by suggesting the 3,000-year-old zodiac system is wrong. Professor Parke Kunkle said the Earth's wobbly orbit means things have changed in the past three millennia and now has a different relationship to the stars. He said the ancient Babylonians determined the dates of the Zodiac and decided not to include a thirteenth sign called Ophiuchus. He believes the changes in the Earth’s orbit now mean this sign must be included in the Zodiac. This would change all of the dates we are used to with our star signs and many of us would have a new one. Professor Kunkle is surprised his recent announcement has shocked people: "Astronomers have known about this since about 130BC," he said.

The story has caused millions around the world to worry their life might change because of this news. People who were happy at being a Virgo are upset because they are now Leos. Kunkle says people should not be worried because star signs were never meant to predict our future or provide an income to horoscope writers, saying: "You could predict when to harvest, when to plant, by the stars. So there is some predictive nature there. Then they took it too far, using it to determine when to go to war and people's personalities." Popular astrologer Susan Miller has reassured people they needn’t worry and called the news "ridiculous." In an interview with ABC News, she joked: "We've known about this for ages….Trying to explain something technical in 140 characters [on Twitter] is hard."

'There are 13 signs of the Zodiac, expert says' -16th January, 2011

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

SESSION 14: A SONG

SESSION 14: A SONG

PETER CETERA: YOU´RE THE INSPIRATION

 

Peter Mimau Cetera (born September 13, 1944, Chicago, Illinois, U.S) is an American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer best known for being an original member of the rock band Chicago, before launching a successful solo career. As a solo artist Cetera has scored five Top 40 singles, including two that reached number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

The lyrics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GceFwYv8sZk

hope you enjoy it

SESSION 14: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 14: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2.1 MOST ADMIRED: Who have you admired this year? Why?

• Friend
• Family Member
• Politician
• Celebrity
• World Leader
• Child

2.2 VIRTUES: What virtues do you appreciate most in a person? Put the one you most admire at the top:

• looks
• intelligence
• sense of humour
• honesty
• leadership skills
• fashion sense
• knowledge of technology
• creativity

2.3 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) What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘admired’?

c) Who do you most admire?
d) What do you think people admire about you?
e) What do you think of Hillary Clinton being voted the world’s most admired woman?
f) What do you think of Barack Obama being voted the world’s most admired man?
g) Do you think the poll would have had different results if not American but Spanish people had voted? Would Spanish people vote politicians?
h) Are you surprised politicians won the awards for most admired man and woman?
i) Do you believe politicians deserve to be admired in Spain?
j) Who do you think should have won the awards?
k) What do you think of awards like this?
l) What do you admire most about politicians?
m) What would you consider in voting for your most admired person?
n) What other Americans do you admire?
o) Do you think Clinton and Obama will win again next year?
p) Why do you think George W. Bush is still in the list?
q) Why do you think so many Americans were on the lists?
r) How would the awards have been different if everyone in the world had a vote?

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 14, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions. Choose one of these two options:

• Do you believe politicians deserve to be admired? Express your opinion.
• Describe the person you admire most.

SESSION 14: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

SESSION 14: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES


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

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

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

1.4 GAP FILL:
ACCORDING - SCOOPED - ROW - PLACE - APPEARED - CAME - RECENT - FORMER
YEARLY - ANYWHERE - SURPRISING - RATINGS - SLIPPED - LIST - MALES - CHANGE

SESSION 14: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 14: 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. Hillary Clinton won an award for the ninth consecutive year.

b. Barack Obama won a similar award for the fifth straight year.

c. Ms Clinton hasn’t been out of the top ten for a decade and a half.

d. The British Queen came fourth in the poll of most admired women.

e. The survey was on people residing in the USA only.

f. Barack Obama got more votes this year than in previous years.

g. The top three most admired men are current or former US presidents.

h. The current pope was listed in the top ten.

1.2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. admired ............... a. consecutively
2. annual ................. b. popularity
3. in a row ............... c. ex-
4. appeared ............. d. poll
5. former ................ e. respected
6. survey ................ f. controlled
7. dominated ........... g. dropped
8. approval ............. h. alter
9. slipped ............... i. yearly
10. change .............. j. showed up

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

1. according to the annual ...................... a. over the world
2. for the ninth year ............................ b. made the top ten
3. been in the most admired woman top .... c. leader
4. only three non-American women .......... d. in a row
5. pro-democracy ............................... e. to previous years
6. It is always dominated ...................... f. American males in the poll
7. his slump in his ............................... g. USA Today-Gallup poll
8. His lead has slipped compared ............. h. ten 15 times
9. The only non- ................................. i. by Americans
10. citizens from all ............................ j. approval ratings

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

PLACE - RECENT - ROW - CAME - ACCORDING - FORMER - SCOOPED - APPEARED

The most admired woman in the world is Hillary Rodham Clinton, ____________ to the annual USA Today-Gallup poll. America’s Secretary of State ____________ the award for the ninth year in a ____________. US President Barack Obama was the most admired man for the third straight year. Sarah Palin came in second ____________ and Oprah Winfrey in third. Ms Clinton has been in the most admired woman top ten 15 times since 1992. She first ____________ after husband Bill Clinton became president. President Barack Obama’s wife Michelle ____________ fourth in the ____________ poll. Unsurprisingly, only three non-American women made the top ten. These were Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and ____________ prime minister Margaret Thatcher, and Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

LIST - RATINGS - ANYWHERE - CHANGE - SLIPPED - YEARLY - MALES - SURPRISING

The ____________ survey asked people what man and woman, living ____________ in the world, they most admired. It is always dominated by Americans. It is ____________ that President Obama still came top, considering his slump in his approval ____________ and the poor state of the US economy. His lead has ____________ compared to previous years. In 2008 he led the ____________ with 32 per cent, in 2009 30 per cent and this year 22 per cent. The other top three places for men were taken by former US presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. The only non-American ____________ in the poll were former South African president Nelson Mandela and Pope Benedict XVI. It would be interesting to see how the poll might ____________ if it was given to citizens from all over the world.

SESSION 14: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 26TH JANUARY

SESSION 14: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 16TH JANUARY

HILLARY CLINTON WORLD´S MOST ADMIRED WOMAN

Text taken and adapted from:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

The text:

The most admired woman in the world is Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to the annual USA Today-Gallup poll. America’s Secretary of State scooped the award for the ninth year in a row. US President Barack Obama was the most admired man for the third straight year. Sarah Palin came in second place and Oprah Winfrey in third. Ms Clinton has been in the most admired woman top ten 15 times since 1992. She first appeared after husband Bill Clinton became president. President Barack Obama’s wife Michelle came fourth in the recent poll. Unsurprisingly, only three non-American women made the top ten. These were Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, and Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The yearly survey asked people what man and woman, living anywhere in the world, they most admired. It is always dominated by Americans. It is surprising that President Obama still came top, considering his slump in his approval ratings and the poor state of the US economy. His lead has slipped compared to previous years. In 2008 he led the list with 32 per cent, in 2009 30 per cent and this year 22 per cent. The other top three places for men were taken by former US presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. The only non-American males in the poll were former South African president Nelson Mandela and Pope Benedict XVI. It would be interesting to see how the poll might change if it was given to citizens from all over the world.

'Hillary Clinton World´s Most Admired Woman' - 28th December, 2010

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

SESSION 13: A SONG

SESSION 13: A SONG

RIO: SHINE ON

A SONG FULL OF HOPE AND LOVE

HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!

SESSION 13: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 13: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2.1. PENSIONER CRIME DISCUSSION:Here are some questions you can try asking yourself before you come to our discussion on Wednesday:

a) What reasons or possible reasons does the text give for the increase in crime rate of pensioners?

b) What do you think is the reason for the increase in the amount of pensioners being convicted?

c) Do you think this increase is also happening in Spain? Do you think this is a normal development of our modern society?

d) With a steadily ageing population, do you think we should reconsider areas like: health care, education, pensions, work places, housing, transport, etc? What things should change from your point of view?

e) What is the current retirement age in your country? Should the retirement age be different for men and woman? Why? Should the retirement age be different for different types of jobs? Why?

f) Do you think the retirement age is finally going to change in Spain? Do you agree with this?

g) When you retire, how would you like to spend your retirement?

h) Do you think people who retire now use their free time differently to twenty years ago? Why?

i) Do you think a person who retires has the possibility to enjoy life? Does the government cover pensioners'  necessities?

2.2. Go to http://www.saga.co.uk/ and make a note of ten things that Saga offers the over 50s. Is there a similar organization in your country?

• If you have a look at this webpage you will see that it is a very practical one for pensioners, giving advice for different areas like: money, health, home and lifestyle, travel and leisure, and even love. Their Saga Zone gives the possibility of messages, friends, forums, messages, blogs, clubs, etc.

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 13, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions. Choose one of these two options:

• 'The ageing of population doesn´t imply a change in the retirement age'. Express your opinion.
• When you retire, how would you like to spend your retirement?

SESSION 13: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY

SESSION 13: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY

PENSIONER CRIMEWAVE MARKS RISE OF THE 'SAGA LOUT'



Text taken from:

http://www.onestopenglish.com/

Just click on:

http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/news-lessons/monthly-topical-news-lessons/pdf-content/pensioner-crimewave-marks-rise-of-the-saga-lout-advanced/550787.article

And you have the text together with some exercises and the key for you to work on.

HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!

SESSION 12: A SONG

SESSION 12: A SONG

DAVID GUETTA FEAT. KELLY ROWLAND: WHEN LOVE TAKES OVER

DESCRIPTION OF THE SONG:

Really uplifting and cheerful, like the experience of being in love.

This song is by French DJ David Guetta, featuring main vocals by American R&B singer Kelly Rowland.

Guetta said to Billboard of this ode to the excitement of being in love: "The track with Kelly has made me experiment with a more American urban influence. Musically, it's opened a new world for me. It's pure pop with a lot of detail, and Kelly had this Whitney Houston vibe and nailed it."

SONG MEANING:

This is a hymn to the happiness one feels when falling in love. Pure joy. No more interpretation is needed since the lyrics are very straight forward and transparent.

The lyrics of the song are underneath the video.

HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!

SESSION 12: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 12: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2.1. RESOLUTIONS: What resolutions do you have for 2011. Why did you decide these? What do you think are the chances of success?

• study
• family and friends
• health
• money
• habits
• other

2.2. PREDICTIONS:  What are your predictions for this year in relation to these topics:

• money
• technology
• sport
• environment
• war
• weather
• your English
• your country

2.3. 2011 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 year ‘2011’?

b) When a new year comes, do you normally think about the year that has finished and what it has meant in your life? How was 2010 for you and your country?

c) What do you think 2011 will be like?

d) Do you like the way your country celebrates the end of the year and the beginning of the new one?

e) Do you enjoy celebrating the end of year? How do you usually celebrate a new year arriving?

f) Do you know other countries that celebrate the end of year and beginning of the new one in a different way? 

g) Do you make / keep New Year’s resolutions?

h) If so, do you repeat the same resolutions every year?

i) Do you think New Year´s resolutions are useful?

j) How could 2011 be the best year ever?

k) Do you think more people will be lifted from poverty?

l) What’s your prediction for the environment for 2011?

m) Are you going to study English more this year? How?

n) Are you going to try and spend more quality time with family and friends?

o) Do New Technologies get in the way of being with family and friends?

p) Do you need to get fitter?

q) Why do so many of us not keep our New Year’s resolutions?

r) What resolutions should your country and its government make?

s) What will you do to make 2011 a great year?

t) What questions would you like to ask the futurologists? Do you normally trust futurologists on TV, magazines, etc?

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 12, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions. Choose one of these two options:

• 'Futurologists cannot be trusted in their predictions' Express your opinion.
• Make your own predictions of the year 2011, focusing on your country and its problems.

SESSION 12: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

SESSION 12: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

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

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

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

1.4 GAP FILL:
PREDICT - WELCOME - LIFTED - ACCESS - LOOKED - PLANT - COOL - BRUSH
SEEMS - POLL - QUALITY - FRONT - GET - GIVING - DEBT - STICK

SESSION 12: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 12: 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. People who study the future predicted this year will be great.
b. More poor people will no longer be poor.
c. One expert predicted very bad things for the environment.
d. A new solar-powered car called the Tesla will go on sale.
e. The most common New Year’s resolution is to save more money.
f. Many of us will try not to text or use mobile phones when with family.
g. Experts believe many people will keep resolutions to get fit until June.
h. Studying English more is an important resolution for many people.

1.2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. experts ........ a. anticipated
2. predict ........ b. appeared
3. access to ...... c. specialists
4. awaited ....... d. survey
5. brush up on ... e. forecast
6. poll ............ f. instead of
7. rather than ... g. improve
8. resolve ........ h. (the) use of
9. featured ...... i. keep
10. stick to ...... j. decide

1.3 PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from this article (sometimes more than one option is possible):
1. This is welcome ..................................... a. applications
2. a greater number of people with access ........ b. will resolve to do
3. the world's largest solar ........................... c. of debt
4. cool websites and .................................. d. our New Year’s resolutions
5. brush up ............................................. e. to computers
6. It seems more of us will keep .................... f. on spelling
7. spend more quality ................................ g. news
8. The second most popular thing we .............. h. time with family
9. many of us could ................................... i. power plant
10. getting out ........................................ j. keep this promise

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

ACCESS - COOL - LIFTED - BRUSH - PREDICT - PLANT - LOOKED - WELCOME

Futurologists and experts who study New Year’s resolutions ____________ 2011 will be the best year ever for many people. This is ____________ news for the billions around the world who hope this year will be better than last year. 2011 will see more people ____________ out of poverty and there will be a greater number of people with ____________ to computers. One expert ____________ forward to new developments that will help the environment. California will open the world's largest solar power ____________ and several electric cars will go on sale, including the much-awaited Tesla. It’s going to be a great year if you study English. There will be more ____________ websites and applications for students to ____________ up on spelling, vocabulary and grammar.

QUALITY - DEBT - SEEMS - GET - STICK - POLL - GIVING - FRONT

It ____________ more of us will keep our New Year’s resolutions this year. According to a New Year’s Day ____________, the top resolution is to spend more ____________ time with family and friends. This means talking to them rather than being on the phone or texting messages in ____________ of them. The second most popular thing we will resolve to do is ____________ fitter. Experts say many of us could keep this promise well into February before ____________ up. We usually forget about this resolution in mid-January. Other top plans include quitting smoking, getting out of ____________ and helping others. Of course, studying English more featured high on many people’s lists. Make 2011 your best ever year and ____________ to your resolutions.

SESSION 12: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 12TH JANUARY

SESSION 12: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 12TH JANUARY

2011 TO BE BEST YEAR EVER

Text taken and adapted from:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

The text:

Futurologists and experts who study New Year’s resolutions predict 2011 will be the best year ever for many people. This is welcome news for the billions around the world who hope this year will be better than last year. 2011 will see more people lifted out of poverty and there will be a greater number of people with access to computers. One expert looked forward to new developments that will help the environment. California will open the world's largest solar power plant and several electric cars will go on sale, including the much-awaited Tesla. It’s going to be a great year if you study English. There will be more cool websites and applications for students to brush up on spelling, vocabulary and grammar.

It seems more of us will keep our New Year’s resolutions this year. According to a New Year’s Day poll, the top resolution is to spend more quality time with family and friends. This means talking to them rather than being on the phone or texting messages in front of them. The second most popular thing we will resolve to do is get fitter. Experts say many of us could keep this promise well into February before giving up. We usually forget about this resolution in mid-January. Other top plans include quitting smoking, getting out of debt and helping others. Of course, studying English more featured high on many people’s lists. Make 2011 your best ever year and stick to your resolutions.

'2011 To Be Best Year Ever'  - 1st January 2011

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/