Wednesday 22 December 2021

XMAS SPEAKING ACTIVITIES

 

esl taboo Christmas vocabulary

Another set of popular vocabulary game based on Taboo. 

Download here>>>>>christmas-forbidden-words1






Christmas Super Quiz GameA quiz game for reviewing Christmas vocabulary.

Christmas Quiz Game        
Christmas Quiz Game (Nativity Story)

Question Sheets

 Multiple Choice Questions

Tuesday 14 December 2021

SPEAKING-XMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER


 https://www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/christmas/conversation-questions/christmas-shopping-questions.html#TopOfPage

1) Do you enjoy Christmas shopping, or do you find it a chore? 

2 How early do you do your Christmas shopping? 

3) Who do you buy Christmas presents for? 

4) Have you ever shopped online for Christmas presents? 

5) Do you give your Christmas gifts in bags, or wrap them in paper? 

6) Which member of your family is the hardest person to buy for? Why? 

7) Which member of your family is the easiest person to buy for? Why? 

8) What was the best Christmas present you ever received? Why? 

9) What was the worst Christmas present you ever received? Why? 

10) Have you ever returned a Christmas present and exchanged it?

11) Have you ever bought Christmas presents in the sales, to put away for the next year? 

12) Have you ever given hand-made Christmas presents to people? 

13) When do you usually finish your Christmas shopping? 

14) Do you feel Christmas has become too commercialised? 

15) What are you hoping to get for Christmas this year?

Listening practice. TED talks

 


Wednesday 8 December 2021

CORONAVIRUS NEW VARIANT


https://english.elpais.com/society/2021-12-08/in-spain-covid-hospital-admissions-jump-32-in-a-week-as-incidence-hits-290-cases-per-100000.html

Omicron coronavirus variant spreading worldwide

A 2-Page Mini-Lesson - Omicron

Download this mini-lesson

A new variant of the covid-19 virus is beginning to spread worldwide. The WHO named the mutation Omicron, after a letter of the Greek alphabet. It was first reported in Botswana on the 9th of November. Two weeks later, it was detected in South Africa and flagged as a "virus of concern". Soon after this, cases were reported in Hong Kong, Israel, Madagascar and Belgium. Epidemiologists have warned that this new strain could be extremely infectious. They also said it may be able to evade protections afforded us by current vaccines. This has led to countries reinstating travel bans. Despite these, new cases have already been reported in the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Scientists are currently analyzing Omicron to assess the dangers it might pose. They have detected 50 genetic changes in the DNA that affects the spikes surrounding the crown of the virus. Current vaccines focus on these spikes. Any changes in the DNA of the spikes could make the virus more virulent, more transmissible and possibly more resistant against vaccines. Scientists say it could take a few weeks to determine how effective our vaccines are against Omicron. The White House's chief medical adviser has warned that: "When you have a virus that is showing this degree of transmissibility, and you're already having travel-related cases…it almost invariably is ultimately going to go all over [the world]."

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2111/211129-omicron-a.html 6.4

Sources:

  • https://nypost.com/2021/11/27/omicron-variant-found-in-uk-germany-czech-republic/ 
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/27/omicron-variant-covid-southern-africa-travel-restrictions
  • https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/11/27/1059501446/covid-coronavirus-omicron-variant

CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       variant / covi-19 / virus / WHO / Omicron / concern / epidemiologist / travel ban /
       scientists / dangers / genetic changes / DNA / vaccines / transmissibility / the world

DISAPPEAR: 

  • Students A strongly believe covid-19 will disappear in a year or two and we can go back to normal; 
  • Students B strongly believe this won't happen. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
COVID-19: How has the coronavirus affected these things? Have you been affected? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Effects

On You

Work / Study

 

 

Shopping

 

 

Travel

 

 

Socializing

 

 

The economy

 

 

Mental health