Today we are going to use the exercise of doing role plays.
Start off 2 x 2 with some simple role plays from the internet
1.Celebrity interview
2.Assorted role plays
3. Applying for a job as chef
Now we move on to role plays using 3 people.
The main theme is conflict.
1. Here is one from the internet.
It is for three roles. 2 parents and a teenager.
The other four are role plays Mike has written.
They are all for 3 people and all based on the theme of conflict.
He will give you them on paper!!
Finally I want you to round off the lesson with a work sheet on the theme of conflict.
Here it is.
Fill it in and mail it to me!
Your homework as usual is to read your classic work. 7 weeks left!
Monday, 30 September 2013
Friday, 27 September 2013
Listening exercises
Today we are going to concentrate on the skill of listening.
The first texts are all related to the text book.
You can follow them and answer the relevant questions.
Some general questions:
What accent does the speaker have?
What specific words in the text show some kind of regional bias?
The first text is from page 104 in the book "My lovely daughter is a rolling stone" .
Please do the exercises on page 105 after listening
The second text is a story divided into three parts about Ronnie and the Winnebago.
You will find the specific questions on 64-65
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
After listening to the three parts of the story please do the speaking exercise on page 65.
The third listening exercise is based on an interview entitled
"Bigfoot is Dead". The questions and exercises are on page 86 in the book
The final listening exercise related to the book is "The last enemy" on page 37. It is a cloze test (gap-fill). Listen and fill in the answers.
Please mail your answers to me for this exercise.
When you have done these 3 listening exercises I would like you to use the following resource.
The English 7 course lies between B2 and C1.
So try out resources on the C1 level using the following link.
Good luck!
The first texts are all related to the text book.
You can follow them and answer the relevant questions.
Some general questions:
What accent does the speaker have?
What specific words in the text show some kind of regional bias?
The first text is from page 104 in the book "My lovely daughter is a rolling stone" .
Please do the exercises on page 105 after listening
The second text is a story divided into three parts about Ronnie and the Winnebago.
You will find the specific questions on 64-65
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
After listening to the three parts of the story please do the speaking exercise on page 65.
The third listening exercise is based on an interview entitled
"Bigfoot is Dead". The questions and exercises are on page 86 in the book
The final listening exercise related to the book is "The last enemy" on page 37. It is a cloze test (gap-fill). Listen and fill in the answers.
Please mail your answers to me for this exercise.
When you have done these 3 listening exercises I would like you to use the following resource.
The English 7 course lies between B2 and C1.
So try out resources on the C1 level using the following link.
Good luck!
Monday, 23 September 2013
The local and the international
According to the planner for today we are going to look at the news ands have discussions.
Start off by checking out some item of international news using one or several of the resources we discussed last Friday.
You might like to discuss the problem of terrorism.
Is it possible to wage a war against it as George Bush claimed?
If we are not happy about email/telephone surveillance how can we expect authorities to intercept plans made by terrorists?
There has been one unsuccessful terrorist attack in Sweden (suicide bomber in Stockholm). Do you think there will be more?
In several European countries there have been "Columbine-like attacks". Will these reach Sweden? (Finland has already been affected)
The attack by Breivik in Norway put a new perspective on terrorism in Europe. What are the chances of an attack from the extreme-right in Sweden?
Then... on a lighter level. Check out The Local.
Have a look at some of the main stories and discuss them with your neighbour.
Don't forget to document your discussions either by recording them on your computer using "ljudinspelaren" or as a written document.
Start off by checking out some item of international news using one or several of the resources we discussed last Friday.
You might like to discuss the problem of terrorism.
Is it possible to wage a war against it as George Bush claimed?
If we are not happy about email/telephone surveillance how can we expect authorities to intercept plans made by terrorists?
There has been one unsuccessful terrorist attack in Sweden (suicide bomber in Stockholm). Do you think there will be more?
In several European countries there have been "Columbine-like attacks". Will these reach Sweden? (Finland has already been affected)
The attack by Breivik in Norway put a new perspective on terrorism in Europe. What are the chances of an attack from the extreme-right in Sweden?
Then... on a lighter level. Check out The Local.
Have a look at some of the main stories and discuss them with your neighbour.
Don't forget to document your discussions either by recording them on your computer using "ljudinspelaren" or as a written document.
Friday, 20 September 2013
The truth is out there!
This was the tagline of the TV-series the "X-Files"and it is important to know what we are sourcing and what the information stands for.
Here are some guidelines named by Christian Kreutz on his blog "Exploring the Web for change"
A typical situation: You sit with friends together and discuss; a fact is cited, but you do not believe it and want to prove it is wrong, so you quickly check it in the Internet. We increasingly rely on our digital backbone, which now it is even ubiquitous available through mobile phones. The net becomes our extended memory – not in any case it is easy to find an answer quickly, but is getting easier thanks to sources such as Wikipedia.
But how do we trust these sources? Sources can have very different approaches, trusted behind the information they offer:
Source Criteria:
Today I want you to look at three kinds of internet sources and give comments which you can email me afterwards.
Information .
Check out the homepage of the BBC
www.bbc.co.uk
Look at the news section.
What are the main headline stories?
How does the BBC divide its reporting of the news.
Compare with SVT's homepage.
What differences do you notice.
Now check out a major national newspaper such as
The Independent
Their job is to give the news but also to sell "copy".
Look at their homepage. Can you see any differences between the kind of stories they publish compared to the BBC?
Education
A lot of news sites have an educational/pedagogical aim.
Check out CNN Student news
In what way are CNN using the news to "educate"?
What aspects of English can you learn from their reporting?
How is this different from the above news sites?
What is the focus of their news? (USA, world events etc)
Are they presented "objectively"? How can you tell?
Propaganda
Look at the following article.
How much of the information you access is in fact misinformation?
Check out some sites dealing with 9/11
The film "Loose change" and the articles around it.
Here is an article from Slate magazine dealing with the issue.
How do you find out if things are true or not on the internet.
Finally look at one of the clips from Vsauce.
How do you know the information is factual?
In a TED Talk there is a live audience who are "scrutinising" what is being said.
Who stands for the information in Vsauce and how reliable is it?
Students from SA13.
Work on your documents for Uganda!!
Here are some guidelines named by Christian Kreutz on his blog "Exploring the Web for change"
A typical situation: You sit with friends together and discuss; a fact is cited, but you do not believe it and want to prove it is wrong, so you quickly check it in the Internet. We increasingly rely on our digital backbone, which now it is even ubiquitous available through mobile phones. The net becomes our extended memory – not in any case it is easy to find an answer quickly, but is getting easier thanks to sources such as Wikipedia.
But how do we trust these sources? Sources can have very different approaches, trusted behind the information they offer:
- Wikileaks anonymously "publishes and comments on leaked documents alleging government and corporate misconduct."
- Bloggers stand with their reputation behind an information.
- Demand Media attempts to deliver thousands of answers each month from amateur writers and film-makers.
- Wikipedia relies on voluntarily work and editors to deliver accurate information or highlight it if it is not the case.
- Newspapers have a reputation of professional journalism.
Source Criteria:
- Who is behind the source?
- Is it a well-known institution or person?
- Where does it originally come from?
- Does it indicate an author?
- Is the article old or up-to-date?
- Does it have comments? How many comments?
- Has the website a commercial intention or is the information service a common good?
- Is the article personally or objectively written?
- Does it have many or none citation to other sources?
- How well written is the article?
- How open is the person behind a presented page? For example, does the author have a biography or a Twitter account?
- Who has recommended the source? Is it a friend, colleague or peer?
- Is it a link from a well-known or unknown blog post to the source?
- Does the source have many readers/subscribers?
- Is it often cited? Can it be checked for example through a Twitter search or Technorati rank, in case of a blog.
- Is the website professionally designed?
- Do you like the design? Would you trust an information source with an appalling design?
- Does it focus on content or rather advertisement?
- Can you navigate easily or are there obstacles to find your information?
- Is it a rather closed site or does it link to a website?
Today I want you to look at three kinds of internet sources and give comments which you can email me afterwards.
Information .
Check out the homepage of the BBC
www.bbc.co.uk
Look at the news section.
What are the main headline stories?
How does the BBC divide its reporting of the news.
Compare with SVT's homepage.
What differences do you notice.
Now check out a major national newspaper such as
The Independent
Their job is to give the news but also to sell "copy".
Look at their homepage. Can you see any differences between the kind of stories they publish compared to the BBC?
Education
A lot of news sites have an educational/pedagogical aim.
Check out CNN Student news
In what way are CNN using the news to "educate"?
What aspects of English can you learn from their reporting?
How is this different from the above news sites?
What is the focus of their news? (USA, world events etc)
Are they presented "objectively"? How can you tell?
Propaganda
Look at the following article.
How much of the information you access is in fact misinformation?
Check out some sites dealing with 9/11
The film "Loose change" and the articles around it.
Here is an article from Slate magazine dealing with the issue.
How do you find out if things are true or not on the internet.
Finally look at one of the clips from Vsauce.
How do you know the information is factual?
In a TED Talk there is a live audience who are "scrutinising" what is being said.
Who stands for the information in Vsauce and how reliable is it?
Students from SA13.
Work on your documents for Uganda!!
Monday, 16 September 2013
A classic and an assignment
Fun Day Monday
The "Bad Day" texts are there for you to read and comment. Why not send a recording from your computer about your worst day?
At the time of writing (6:56) I have received 11 out of thirty-one Ted Talk summaries! By the end of today I want them all in.
I will start off today's lesson by returning some of the work you have given to me. The first lesson you worked on paper but from now onwards I would like you to send your assignments digitally.
The absolute best way is to send them as google documents so that the process of writing can be enhanced.
To make life a bit easier I have included a document on the right-hand side of the blog to do with corrections.
We can look at it briefly and then get on with the task in hand for today.
Today we will be beginning the first of three literary works which are part of the course.
We start with a "classic".
The definition of what constitutes a "classic" has always been open to interpretation and discussion. I want you to add your fuel to this discussion.
Here is the document I would like you to download as a basis for your assignment.
If you cannot find anything of interest on our shelves then here is a list of possible authors.
Finally to give some perspective of what was going on in the UK during the nineteenth century (1800's) I have included a time-line of important events.
Your homework for this week is to start reading your "classic". The deadline for completion is week 47 when you will give your classic talk.
E-mail me by Friday the title of your work and the name of the author.
The "Bad Day" texts are there for you to read and comment. Why not send a recording from your computer about your worst day?
At the time of writing (6:56) I have received 11 out of thirty-one Ted Talk summaries! By the end of today I want them all in.
I will start off today's lesson by returning some of the work you have given to me. The first lesson you worked on paper but from now onwards I would like you to send your assignments digitally.
The absolute best way is to send them as google documents so that the process of writing can be enhanced.
To make life a bit easier I have included a document on the right-hand side of the blog to do with corrections.
We can look at it briefly and then get on with the task in hand for today.
Today we will be beginning the first of three literary works which are part of the course.
We start with a "classic".
The definition of what constitutes a "classic" has always been open to interpretation and discussion. I want you to add your fuel to this discussion.
Here is the document I would like you to download as a basis for your assignment.
If you cannot find anything of interest on our shelves then here is a list of possible authors.
Finally to give some perspective of what was going on in the UK during the nineteenth century (1800's) I have included a time-line of important events.
Your homework for this week is to start reading your "classic". The deadline for completion is week 47 when you will give your classic talk.
E-mail me by Friday the title of your work and the name of the author.
Friday, 13 September 2013
Ice-breaker/Ted Talk/planner/Presentation of your study area
First of all some important information about the course.
Monday lessons will start at 9 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. as I have to fit in my online Spanish class.
However, I think it is important to use the "lost" hour wisely. I will put some resources every week on the blog for those in need of guidance.
This week I have put on the "bad day" texts to comment.
What was your worst day?
Otherwise the classroom will be open at 8 and it gives you a great opportunity to do your vocabulary work, book reading or other tasks
Down to today.We are going to start off with an ice-breaker exercise based on something you wrote to me in your personal letter.
I have tried to take something general (not too personal) and not too obvious.
Go round in class and by asking questions ascertain (find out) the name of the person in question.
The first all correct answer gets a little prize of some candy(sweets).
If we have time before the break I want to do a couple of presentations of the different study areas
After the break we will go through the planner in detail. No paper copy. It's on the blog.
Finally your TED-talk. In small groups of 4 give a 30 second look at your TED Talk and then tell the other students about it and your opinions on it.
Don't forget to email me the summary of it.
Monday lessons will start at 9 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. as I have to fit in my online Spanish class.
However, I think it is important to use the "lost" hour wisely. I will put some resources every week on the blog for those in need of guidance.
This week I have put on the "bad day" texts to comment.
What was your worst day?
Otherwise the classroom will be open at 8 and it gives you a great opportunity to do your vocabulary work, book reading or other tasks
Down to today.We are going to start off with an ice-breaker exercise based on something you wrote to me in your personal letter.
I have tried to take something general (not too personal) and not too obvious.
Go round in class and by asking questions ascertain (find out) the name of the person in question.
The first all correct answer gets a little prize of some candy(sweets).
If we have time before the break I want to do a couple of presentations of the different study areas
After the break we will go through the planner in detail. No paper copy. It's on the blog.
Finally your TED-talk. In small groups of 4 give a 30 second look at your TED Talk and then tell the other students about it and your opinions on it.
Don't forget to email me the summary of it.
Find someone who: Name
1. is a wannabe
3-D artist with ideas for a new kind of car _______________
2. since age 10 has had England as a favourite country _______________
3.has lately improved on sports linguistics and the
piano _______________
4.would like to study at the Royal College
of Art _______________
5.moose hunts and has been to Morocco _______________
6. steak eating yellow house dweller who longs to
invent things _______________
7. has connections with West Virginia
USA _______________
8. loves cats and being on the stage _______________
9. has a lot of relatives in a flat European country _______________
10. loves travelling, volleyball -has been to California and Thailand _______________
11.was at an amazing bachelor party recently _______________
12.has a grandfather an artist and lives according to
YOLO _______________
13.is fascinated by leaders especially Che Guevara _______________
14. has lived abroad for five years and loves
discussions _______________
15. chose an
earlier school because of an interest in floorball _______________
16. is sports interested and whose sister lives close
to London _______________
17. would love to say one day “I constructed that
bridge” _______________
18. a would-be engineer with relatives on three continents _______________
19. chose boards instead of sticks and pucks _______________
20. has a twin, trains taekwondo and tricked all his
teachers once _______________
21. has roots in the place where the IF-Boats were
made _______________
22. plays music and knows what to do with 19 million
golf balls _______________
23who loves classical literature and might one day be
a doctor _______________
24. hopes to study in Västerås after high school _______________
25. spends every summer abroad and misses the job cash _______________
26.hopes to study criminology in the future _______________
27. is an adventurer with tailless cats and gt.
Friends in Leksand _______________
28. loves music and played football in a team that no
longer exists _______________
29. was born in a little town full of gangsters and
mopeds _______________
30. probably hasn’t done this exercise!!!!!! _______________
Friday, 6 September 2013
First faltering steps
Thank you for all your suggestions. I will include as many as possible in the planner which will be ready by next week.
We are too many to do the planner together but all comments and suggestions to improve the course are welcome.
I want to get your letters now. Only a few people sent them to me digitally.
Let me start off by saying there will be no class on Monday morning.
I have to go to Falun to meet the students who will be studying online.
However you have two assignments for next Friday, over and above what we will be studying today.
1. Your area of studies. Click on the following link to see the areas of study available for the Swedish high school.
Click on your study area and using the translation into English make a wordlist of key words for your study area with translation. Be prepared to tell Mike orally about your studies next Friday.
2. Ted Talks
By using the link to the Topic page choose a TED Talk related to your area of study. I want you to write a brief summary of you talk and in small groups on Friday be prepared to present some information about it. You will show the first couple of minutes of the talk to a small group of students. Make sure you have a computer with you.
Now let's get back to today.
We will be having a traditional kind of class with a:
a)listening exercise
b)reading exercise
c)speaking/ discussion
d) writing a short narrative
a) We will start off by listening to Arthur Cain dscribing the world he grew up in. The sound file is available here for the first part.As we listen please answer the questions either on paper or on your computer.
The second part is here
Arthur is from Scotland and speaks with a characteristic Scottish accent.
b)A completely different accent would be the one used by Bill Sprockett. You can listen to a little section here. But this is a reading task and not just listening.
c) The speaking task is divided into two parts. First of all with your neighbour discuss this story. How would you describe Bill Sprockett's lifestyle?
Secondly do the speaking exercise on page 14/15 in groups of 4 students.
d) Finally there is a writing assignment on the bottom of page 15 which I would like you to do. It's about Bill Sprockett's shoes offering advice.
AS usual all written assignments must be sent digitally or else be handed in on paper before you leave the class.
We are too many to do the planner together but all comments and suggestions to improve the course are welcome.
I want to get your letters now. Only a few people sent them to me digitally.
Let me start off by saying there will be no class on Monday morning.
I have to go to Falun to meet the students who will be studying online.
However you have two assignments for next Friday, over and above what we will be studying today.
1. Your area of studies. Click on the following link to see the areas of study available for the Swedish high school.
Click on your study area and using the translation into English make a wordlist of key words for your study area with translation. Be prepared to tell Mike orally about your studies next Friday.
2. Ted Talks
By using the link to the Topic page choose a TED Talk related to your area of study. I want you to write a brief summary of you talk and in small groups on Friday be prepared to present some information about it. You will show the first couple of minutes of the talk to a small group of students. Make sure you have a computer with you.
Now let's get back to today.
We will be having a traditional kind of class with a:
a)listening exercise
b)reading exercise
c)speaking/ discussion
d) writing a short narrative
a) We will start off by listening to Arthur Cain dscribing the world he grew up in. The sound file is available here for the first part.As we listen please answer the questions either on paper or on your computer.
The second part is here
Arthur is from Scotland and speaks with a characteristic Scottish accent.
b)A completely different accent would be the one used by Bill Sprockett. You can listen to a little section here. But this is a reading task and not just listening.
c) The speaking task is divided into two parts. First of all with your neighbour discuss this story. How would you describe Bill Sprockett's lifestyle?
Secondly do the speaking exercise on page 14/15 in groups of 4 students.
d) Finally there is a writing assignment on the bottom of page 15 which I would like you to do. It's about Bill Sprockett's shoes offering advice.
AS usual all written assignments must be sent digitally or else be handed in on paper before you leave the class.
Monday, 2 September 2013
Boot camp
Since all the online students are meeting at 9 a.m today, this will be a short lesson.
It will consist of some administration and a couple of tasks.
Having distributed the books (English C ) we will endeavour to look at the curriculum for the course.
Here it is in digital form.
I have also included a letter to you both in paper and digital format. I want a reply to this by Friday AT THE LATEST. Here is the letter.
What we need to do today is analyse the curriculum and grade guidelines and plan areas which must be examined and tested in order to fulfill these requirements.
By Friday I shall put your observations into some kind of planner for the autumn term.
Since the language used in the document is complex I have included a copy in Swedish of the original document. It is here on the right-hand side of the blog.
It will consist of some administration and a couple of tasks.
Having distributed the books (English C ) we will endeavour to look at the curriculum for the course.
Here it is in digital form.
I have also included a letter to you both in paper and digital format. I want a reply to this by Friday AT THE LATEST. Here is the letter.
What we need to do today is analyse the curriculum and grade guidelines and plan areas which must be examined and tested in order to fulfill these requirements.
By Friday I shall put your observations into some kind of planner for the autumn term.
Since the language used in the document is complex I have included a copy in Swedish of the original document. It is here on the right-hand side of the blog.
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