Wednesday 19 December 2018
In the Xmas mood...
Tuesday 18 December 2018
Monday 17 December 2018
Writing practice: Topics
- Damage to the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements in the standard of living. Discuss.
- Are famous people treated unfairly by the media? Should they be given more privacy, or is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives?
- Are our zoos cruel to wild animals?
- Are women better parents than men?
- Are zoos necessary for education?
- Children learn best by observing the behavior of adults and copying it. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Children should never be educated at home by their parents. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Computers can translate all kinds of languages well. Do our children need to learn more languages in the future?
- Damage to the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements in the standard of living. Discuss.
- Discuss some of the arguments for and against keeping animals in zoos.
- Discuss the advantage and disadvantage of giving international aid to poor countries.
- Do the benefits of study abroad justify the difficulties?
- Do we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more good news was reported?
- Does foreign aid helps donor countries more than the recipients?
- Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler?
- Does travel help to promote understanding and communication between countries?
- Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country. Do you agree?
- Foreign language instruction should begin in kindergarten. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to develop your essay.
- The destruction of the world’s forests is inevitable as our need for land and food grows. Do you agree?
- Human beings do not need to eat meat in order to maintain good health because they can get all their food needs from meatless products and meatless substances. A vegetarian diet is as healthy as a diet containing meat. What is your opinion?
- If children behave badly, should their parents accept responsibility and also be punished?
- In many countries, when someone gets old, they often go to live in a home with other old people where there are nurses to look after them. Sometimes governments pay for this care. Who should be responsible for our old people? Give reasons. Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.
- In some countries the average worker is obliged to retire at the age of 50, while in others people can work until they are 65 or 70. Until what age do you think people should be encouraged to remain in paid employment? Give reasons for your answer.
- In what ways has information technology changed work and working practices in the past 10 years?
- In your opinion should government intervene in the rights of the individual with regard to family planning?
- In your opinion what factors contribute to a good movie?
- Is animal testing necessary?
- Many people believe that women make better parents than men and that this is why they have the greater role in raising children in most societies. Others claim that men are just as good as women at parenting. Write an essay expressing your point of view. Give reasons for your answer.
- Many students choose to attend schools or universities outside their home countries. Why do some students study abroad? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.
- Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women?
Opinion Essay. Structure and samples.
Structure of the Opinion Essay:
- Introduction – introduces the topic and state your opinion clearly
- Body - consists of three or more paragraphs each presenting a separate viewpoint supported by reasons/examples
- Conclusion – summarizes/restates your opinion using different words
Useful Language
То express
opinion: I believe, In my
opinion, I think, In my view, I strongly believe, I see it, It seems to me
(that), As far as I am concerned, I am (not) convinced that..., In my
opinion/view …My opinion is that …, I (firmly) believe …, I (definitely) feel/think
that, I am inclined to believe that ……
То list points: In the first place, first of all, to start
with, Firstly, to begin with
То add more
points: what is more, another
major reason, also, furthermore, moreover, in addition to this/that, besides,
apart from this, not to mention the fact that
То introduce
contrasting viewpoints: It is
argued that, People argue that, There are people who oppose, Contrary to what
most people believe,
As opposed to the
above ideas
To introduce
examples: for example, for
instance, such as, in particular, especially
To conclude: To sum up, All in all, All things considered,
Taking everything into account.
Paragraph outline: Examples:
Physical
Education should be taught in schools.
Do
you agree or disagree?
Support your opinion with arguments and examples.
Physical Education has been a part of the school
curriculum for years, and I believe that it should remain so for a variety of
reasons.
In the first place, offering Physical Education is
vital for children who have neither the time, nor the opportunity to do sport
elsewhere. Physical Education is especially beneficial for children living in
crowded cities who do not have space to play. Doing sport at school gives them
the opportunity to exercise and get rid of their excess energy. In addition,
team sports develop children’s social skills encouraging them to work as part
of a team and to cooperate with others.
On the other hand, some parents feel that Physical
Education should not be a compulsory subject as not all children enjoy or are
good at sport. These parents forget, however, that all children can benefit
from physical activities and doing sport will give them the chance to improve
their skills and their health.
In conclusion, I believe that Physical Education is an
important part of every school curriculum since physical activity helps
children to keep fit and stay energetic and alert.
Computers
are a necessity. Do
you agree or disagree?
Support your opinion with arguments and examples.
Computers play an important role in the lives of most
of us today, whether we realize it or not. Some people, however, are beginning
to ask if we really need them. In my opinion, computers have become a necessary
part of modern life.
In the first place, computers can save a lot of
storage space. Storing information on computer disks is one of the most
efficient ways of keeping data. One computer disk can hold the same amount of
information as several books.
Furthermore, computers save everyone a lot of valuable
time. Stored information can be found at the touch of a button, whereas
searching for it manually takes much longer. Therefore, our every-day lives are
made easier - from going to the bank to doing the shopping.
Nevertheless, there are those who claim that computers
are unnecessary and make our lives more complicated. They argue that in the
past we managed very well using other methods and that we have become too
dependent on computers. However, they fail to consider that the time saved by
using computers for repetitive tasks enables us to use our own time more
creatively and productively.
All in all, I strongly believe that computers are a
useful tool. They have changed our lives for the better and there is no reason
why we should not make them work to our advantage.
Grammar: MODALS revision.
Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special verbs which behave irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs like "work, play, visit..." They give additional information about thefunction of the main verb that follows it. They have a great variety ofcommunicative functions.
Here are some characteristics of modal verbs:
- They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"...
- They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (e.i. the bare infinitive.)
- They are used to indicate modality allow speakers to express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability
List of modal verbs
Here is a list of modal verbs:
The verbs or expressions dare, ought to, had better, and need not behave like modal auxiliaries to a large extent and my be added to the above list
can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must
Use of modal verbs:
Modal verbs are used to express functions such as:
- Permission
- Ability
- Obligation
- Prohibition
- Lack of necessity
- Advice
- possibility
- probability
Examples of modal verbs
Here is a list of modals with examples:
| Modal Verb | Expressing | Example |
|---|---|---|
| must | Strong obligation | You must stop when the traffic lights turn red. |
| logical conclusion / Certainty | He must be very tired. He's been working all day long. | |
| must not | prohibition | You must not smoke in the hospital. |
| can | ability | I can swim. |
| permission | Can I use your phone please? | |
| possibility | Smoking can cause cancer. | |
| could | ability in the past | When I was younger I could run fast. |
| polite permission | Excuse me, could I just say something? | |
| possibility | It could rain tomorrow! | |
| may | permission | May I use your phone please? |
| possibility, probability | It may rain tomorrow! | |
| might | polite permission | Might I suggest an idea? |
| possibility, probability | I might go on holiday to Australia next year. | |
| need not | lack of necessity/absence of obligation | I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. |
| should/ought to | 50 % obligation | I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible headache. |
| advice | You should / ought to revise your lessons | |
| logical conclusion | He should / ought to be very tired. He's been working all day long. | |
| had better | advice | You 'd better revise your lessons |
Remember
Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without "to", also called the bare infinitive.
Examples:
- You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
- You should see to the doctor.
- There are a lot of tomatoes in the fridge. You need not buy any.
Related pages
- Modals
- Present and past of modals
- Exercise on modals
- Exercise on modals in the past
- Exercise on modals: mustn't or needn't
- Exercise on the meaning of modals
- Must and have to
- Shall and will
Sunday 16 December 2018
Yellow Vest- protests in France...
France is experiencing social unrest it has not experienced for generations. The country famous for its revolutions and protests has been rocked by a serious of nationwide, violent demonstrations. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets for the past four weekends and have brought chaos to businesses, transport and the French economy. The protests are being led by the Yellow Vests Movement, so called because protestors don high-visibility yellow jackets usually worn by the emergency services. The protests are motivated by rising fuel prices, the high cost of living, and claims that an unequal burden of new tax reforms were falling on the working and middle classes.
France's President Emmanuel Macron has declared "a state of social and economic emergency". The violence has caused over a billion dollars in damages so far. This figure is set to rise as more demos are planned. Paris has suffered the brunt of the protests and authorities are closing famous sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. To quell public anger, Mr Macron has promised to cancel his proposed rise in fuel prices, deliver tax relief for the poor and cancel a tax on retired people. He called for the havoc and mayhem to end and for calm and order to return. He said: "No anger justifies attacking a police officer...or damaging a shop or public building. When violence is unleashed, freedom ends."
For more information, check on this site from the BBC:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/yellow_vests
Audio:
Back online again ...
The Blog and the English Resources
are Back Online Again.
Welcome. Here, you´ll find
lots of activities to practise real English
Monday 11 June 2018
SUMMER TIME. TRAVELLING
Airport language
Are you ready to take a trip? We’re going to start a series of lessons on practical English for use while traveling. Today we’re going to go through the airport step by step, learning important vocabulary and useful phrases along the way.
CONVERSATION #1 – AT THE CHECK-IN DESK
Dan is flying from New York to Los Angeles. When he arrives at the airport, he goes to the check-in desk. Listen to the conversation he has with the agent:
Agent: Good afternoon! Where are you flying to today?
Agent: Good afternoon! Where are you flying to today?
Dan: Los Angeles.
Agent: May I have your passport, please?
Dan: Here you go.
Agent: Are you checking any bags?
Dan: Just this one.
Agent: OK, please place your bag on the scale.
Dan: I have a stopover in Chicago – do I need to pick up my luggage there?
Agent: No, it’ll go straight through to Los Angeles. Here are your boarding passes – your flight leaves from gate 15A and it’ll begin boarding at 3:20. Your seat number is 26E.
Dan: Thanks.
CONVERSATION VOCABULARY AND PHRASES
- Instead of “Where are you flying today?”the agent may ask “What’s your final destination?” The answer will be the same!
- You can say “Here you go”anytime you give something to somebody
- To check your bags means to put them on the airplane inside the cargo compartment. The small bag you take with you on the airplane is called a carry-on. You need to put your carry-on bags through the X-ray machine at security.
- The scaleis the equipment that tells you the weight of your luggage (45 kilograms, for example)
- A stopover or layover is when the airplane stops in a different city before continuing to the final destination
- If the agent says that your luggage will go straight through, it means it will go directly to the final destination (and you don’t need to pick it up during your stopover)
- Boarding passes are the tickets that permit you to enter the airplane
- When a plane begins boarding, it means that the passengers start to enter the plane. Usually boarding time is 30-60 minutes before takeoff (when the plane leaves)
OTHER QUESTIONS & PHRASES FOR THE AIRPORT
EXCUSE ME, WHERE IS THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CHECK-IN DESK?”
- “How many bags can I check?”
- “Will my luggage go straight through, or do I need to pick it up in [Chicago]?”
- “How much is the fee?”If your bag is heavier than the weight limits, or if your bag is larger than the size limits, you may need to pay extra: an oversized baggage fee or overweight baggage fee (this can be $75 to $300). Some airlines in the United States also charge a fee for ALL checked bags (usually $15 to $30).
- “Please mark this bag as ‘fragile.’”Say this if you have fragile or sensitive items in your bag that might break
- “Is the flight on time?”The agent will respond either “Yes” if the flight is on time, or “There’s a 20-minute delay” (for example) if the flight will leave later than expected.
EXTRA QUESTIONS IN THE U.S.
On flights going to or inside the U.S., you might be asked some extra security questions before or during check-in. Here are some sample questions:
Answer YES to these questions:
- Did you pack your bags yourself?
- Has your luggage been in your possession at all times?
- Are you aware of the regulations regarding liquids in your carry-on?
(Liquids must be 100 mL or less, and stored in a single quart-sized clear plastic bag)
More information: TSA.gov
Answer NO to these questions:
- Are you carrying any firearms or flammable materials?
- Have you left your luggage unattended at any time?
- Has anyone given you anything to carry on the flight?
CONVERSATION #2 – GOING THROUGH SECURITY
There are two pieces of equipment in security: you put your bags through the X-ray machine, and you walk through the metal detector. Some airports also use a body scanner for a more careful check.
The X-ray machine has a conveyor belt that moves your bags automatically through the machine. You can put small items like keys or money into plastic bins.
In the picture below, the woman is walking through the metal detector.
Her suitcase is on the conveyor belt after going through the X-ray machine.
Her suitcase is on the conveyor belt after going through the X-ray machine.
Agent: Please lay your bags flat on the conveyor belt, and use the bins for small objects.
Dan: Do I need to take my laptop out of the bag?
Agent: Yes, you do. Take off your hat and your shoes, too.
(he walks through the metal detector)
[BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP]
Agent: Please step back. Do you have anything in your pockets – keys, cell phone, loose change?
Dan: I don’t think so. Let me try taking off my belt.
Agent: Okay, come on through.
(he goes through the metal detector again)
Agent: You’re all set! Have a nice flight.
The phrase “you’re all set” is a common expression that means “you’re finished and everything is OK.”
Phrasal Verbs: SET OFF and GO OFF
When the alarm sounds, we say “the alarm went off.” To describe what caused the alarm to sound, we say “set off” – for example, “My keys set off the alarm” or “My keys set off the metal detector.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THE GATE
Airports are divided into terminals (the major sections of the airport) and each terminal has many gates. The gate is the door you go through to enter the airplane. Here are a few announcements you might hear while you are at the gate, waiting for the plane to board.
- There has been a gate change.”(this means the flight will leave from a different gate)
- “United Airlines flight 880 to Miami is now boarding.”
(this means it’s time for passengers to enter the plane) - “Please have your boarding pass and identification ready for boarding.”
- “We would like to invite our first- and business-class passengers to board.”
- “We are now inviting passengers with small children and any passengers requiring special assistance to begin boarding.”
- “We would now like to invite all passengers to board.”
(this means everyone can enter the plane) - “This is the final boarding call for United Airlines flight 880 to Miami.”
(this means it is the FINAL OPPORTUNITY to enter the plane before they close the doors) - “Passenger John Smith, please proceed to the United Airlines desk at gate 12.”
CONVERSATION #3: ON THE PLANE
The people who work inside the airplane serving food and drinks are called flight attendants. Both men and women who have this job are called flight attendants. Listen to this conversation that Dan has with the flight attendant when dinner is served on the flight.
Flight attendant: Chicken or pasta?
Flight attendant: Chicken or pasta?
Dan: Sorry?
Flight attendant: Would you like chicken or pasta?
Dan: I’ll have the chicken.
Flight attendant: Anything to drink?
Dan: What kind of soda do you have?
Flight attendant: Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Orange, and Dr. Pepper.
Dan: A Diet Coke, no ice, please.
Flight attendant: Here you go.
Dan: Thanks.
CONVERSATION TIPS:
If you didn’t understand what the flight attendant said, you can say Sorry? or Pardon? to ask him or her to repeat it.
If you want to ask for something, you can use the phrase “Can I have…?” or “Could I have…?” Practice your pronunciation with these common requests
- Can I have a pillow?”
- “Can I have a blanket?”
- “Can I have a pair of headphones/earbuds?”
- “Could I have some water/coffee/tea?”
- “Could I have some extra napkins?”
Finally, if you need to stand up, but there is a person sitting between you and the aisle, you can say Excuse me and make a motion to start standing up. The person sitting next to you will understand and stand up to let you get out of your seat.
You’ve finished Lesson 16! Now take the quiz to test how well you remember the phrases. In tomorrow’s lesson, you’ll learn English phrases for arriving at the destination airport, going through immigration, and dealing with common travel problems.
- Download the text
- Download the audio
(Right-click on each link and select “Save” or “Save as”)
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