Lesson 6

Welcome to the final blog entry for this course.

In our sixth lesson we looked at ’10B I’ve managed to make my dreams come true’.

For grammar we spoke about wishes and regrets.

Here is a video that looks at wishes and regrets:

For vocabulary homework you will read about verbs of effort. Click here for a link to a webpage that covers verbs of effort in detail.

For homework you need to complete exercise 4 on page 121. You then have to read the information for 10B on page 152 and then do the exercises for 10B on page 153. If you have access te textbook, you can also complete the exercises for Unit 10B in the Digital Workbook.

That’s all for today.

Steve

 

Lesson 5

In our fifth lesson we looked at ’10A It might not have ben his real name’. For grammar we looked at Past modals of deduction. For vocabulary we spoke about adjectives with prefixes.

Here is a long video on Past modals of deduction (you can skip to around 5:30 in the video to skip straight to the grammar section):

Here is a video that looks at some common prefixes in English:

For homework I asked you to read the information for 10A on page 152 and then do the exercises for 10A on page 153. You also need to do all of the exercises for 10A on page 163. If you have access to the webpage, you can also do the exercises for 10A in the Digita Workbook.

That’s all for today.

Steve

 

Lesson 4

Welcome back.

In our fourth lesson we did some speaking and reading exercises focusing on alternative medicine. We also looked at various ways to present a series of arguments when writing.

Here is a video which looks at how to use ‘cohesive devices’ and referencing when writing an essay:

Here is a video which looks at similar words which can be used to make transitions while speaking:

For homework, I asked you to complete the exercises for Unit 9D that I gave you in class. You also need to complete the Reading and Grammar exercises for Unit 10A on page 116 and 117. Here is a video that will help to explain Past Modals of Deduction:

That’s all for today.

Steve

 

Lesson 3

Hello again.

In our third lesson we spoke about surprises. We also looked at some useful language for expressing uncertainty.

Here is a detailed video which provides quite a few idioms that can be used to express doubt and uncertainty in English:

We also spoke about linking sounds when we speak, as well as intrusion.

Here are three videos that look at three different sounds that are used with intrusion.

This video looks at the sound ‘y’ (as in ‘y’ellow):

These 2 videos look at the ‘r’ sound (as in ‘r’ed):

This next video looks at the ‘w’ sound (as in ‘w’hite):

We also did a speaking exercise for clarifying a misunderstanding.

Here is a video that looks at some general ways to ask for clarification:

Here is another video that looks at some common ways to ask for clarification in business-related situations:

For homework, I asked you to complete the exercises for 9C that I gave you (or you can do them in the Digital Workbook).

If you would like to do some extra writing homework for me, you can do exercise 4 on page 113. You can email me your work and I will check it for you.

That’s all for today.

Steve

 

Lesson 2

Welcome back to the blog.

In our second lesson we did a listening and speaking exercise about a dangerous banana hoax.

We also looked at vocabulary used for describing thoughts and knowledge.

Here is a video that you might find useful which explains some phrasal verbs that are used to talk about thoughts or knowledge:

For homework I asked you to complete the photocopy of the exercises for Unit 9B (page 53 from theback of the book).

If you would like to do some extra homework, you can write a few paragraphs about a hoax, scam or case of fraud that you know about. You can explain who was responsible for it, what they did, who were the victims of it, and what was the final result of the incident. Email your work to me (steven.brown@folkuniversitetet.se) and I will check your writing for you.

That’s all for today.

Steve

 

Lesson 1

Hello everyone, and welcome to the course blog!

This blog is intended to help you get the most out of this course. After each lesson I will update it with a brief outline of what we cover in each lesson, as well as inform you of the homework that has been set. In future blogs I may also include links to videos or other web-pages to read to help your learning.

For any new students, I recommend that you read the blog entries from the previous course (just scroll down to the bottom of the page).

We began our first lesson by introducing ourselves to each other. It was very nice to meet you all. We have students from a variety of different countries and cultures.

The textbook we will be using is Cambridge English EMPOWER Second Edition Advanced B2  Combo B with Digital Pack. FOR THIS COURSE ONLY, you so not need to buy the book if you don’t want to. I can make photocopies for you (but you won’t be able to do some of the homework activitives).

However, if you wish to buy the book, the easiest and quickest place to buy the book is from Ferdosi Bookshop, Odengatan 21, Stockholm. Alternatively, you can buy and download a digital version of the book (with access to the website).

These books have a code that will let you use the supporting website for the textbook. You will regularly be given homework from the Digital Workbook which is accessed on this website. The code is on the inside cover of your textbook (You need to carefully scratch the grey material to see the code underneath). You will need then need to scan the QR code OR go to http://www.cambridgeone.org to register your textbook. Before you can register your textbook you will need to create an account. CLICK HERE to see instructions for how to create an account.

*PLEASE NOTE:  You do NOT need to Join a Class, that is only for online courses. However, I recommend you use the ‘Self Study’ section. Please have a look at all of this website, it is very helpful. The ‘Getting Help’ section might be useful if you have any problems.

We began our first lesson by introducing ourselves to each other. It was very nice to meet you all.

We then began to look at ‘9B They had no idea it was fraud’.

We spoke about different terms used to describe specific types of deception. We then read an article about the rise and fall of a man who committed major fraud.

For grammar we looked at reported speech and reporting verbs.

Here is a video that looks at reported speech in detail:

Here is a shorter video that looks at reporting verbs:

For homework, you need to read the information for 9B on page 150 and then do the exercises for 9B on page 151. You should then complete exercise 2e on page 108.

That’s all for today.

Steve

 

Lesson 6

In our sixth lesson we looked at ‘9A What really shocks me is that it cost £250,000’. We did a reading exercise and discussed breakthroughs in medical science. We also did some vocabulary exercises related to health. For grammar homework you were asked to read about relative clauses.

Here is a video that explains relative clauses:

For homework you were asked to complete exercise 2c and all of exercise 4 on page 196. If you have the textbook you can also complete the Listening exercises on the website. You also need to read the information for 9A on page 150 and do the exercises for 9A on page 151. Finally, you should complete the exercises for Unit 9A in the Digital workbook (or on the photocopy that I gave you in class).

Don’t forget that our current course finishes next week. If you would like to continue in the next course, please click here and register.

That’s all for today.

Steve

 

Lesson 5

We began our fifth lesson by looking at the Unit 7 Review and Extension that you were given for homework. This included some exercises with some multi-word verbs that included the word ‘down’. This link to the British Council website gives a general explanation of multiword verbs and there various structures. You can click here for an extensive list of multi-word (phrasal) verbs and their meanings.

We then did some speaking and listening exercises about TV programs.

For homework I asked you to complete exercise 3 on page 101. You also need to complete Unit 8D in the Digital Workbook.

If you would like to do an extra writing task, you can complete exercise 4a and 4b on page 101. Email me your work for exercise 4b and I will check it for you.

Our current course finishes next week. If you would like to continue in the next course, please click here and register.

That’s all for today.

See you on Thursday.

Steve

 

Lesson 4

Hello again.

In our fourth lesson we spoke about situations where people were having a bad day, and how we attempted to cheer them up or encourage them. We also looked at some conversation skills to show that we have something in common with another person.

For homework I asked you to complete the exercises for Unit 8C in the Digital Workbook and also all of the exercises from the Unit 7 Review and Extension on page 90 (or from the photocopies that I gave you).

Here are some videos that will help you with the grammar section of the Unit 7 homework:

If you would like to do some extra writing homework, you can read exercise 7a on page 99 and write two or three paragraphs in response. Your work should be emailed directly to me at steven.brown@folkuniversitetet.se and I will check it for you.

That’s all for today.

Steve

 

Lesson 3

Welcome back to the blog.

In our third less we continued to discuss morals and we also spoke about different crimes.

Click here for a link to a webpage that has an extensive list of common and uncommon words related to crime, law and punishment.

For homework I asked you to complete the exercises for Vocabulary Focus 8B on page 161. If you haven’t already, you should also complete the exercises for Unit 8B in the Digital Workbook (or on the photocopies that I handed out from the black and white section at the back of the textbook).

Most of you didn’t do the optional writing homework from the previous lesson. You can still do that if you wish to. If you would like me to check your writing, you can look at exercise 5a on page 94, and then email a few paragraphs to me for your response to 5c. My email address is: steven.brown@folkuniversitetet.se

That’s all for today.

Steve

 

Lesson 2

Hello everyone.

In our second lesson we spoke about Phonemic( sometimes called ‘Phonetic’) Symbols, which are symbols which represent the various sounds used in English pronunciation. Click here for a link to a website which displays the Phonemic Chart with all the symbols, and allows you to click/press on each symbol to hear the sound that it represents.

Below is a video which explains the Phonemic (/Phonetic) Chart in a logical manner of grouping, with an explanation of the position of the mouth and tongue when making the sounds, and whether they are voiced or unvoiced consonant sounds. ***PLEASE NOTE***: This video excludes the /i/ sound (as in ‘happy‘), because in some dialects the /i:/ sound (as in ‘tree‘) is used instead:

 

Next, we spoke about the different ways we pay for things. We also read about the advantages and disadvantages of  cashless society.

After that, we did some reading and listening exercises about morals and honesty.

For homework, I asked you to read about how to use ‘should have + past participle’ to criticise (or express regret) and also how to use the third conditional.

Here is a video that looks at ‘should have + past participle’:

 

Here is an excellent video which explains Third Conditional in a greater detail:

For homework you need to read the information for 8B on page 148 and do the exercises for 8B on page 149. You should also complete Unit 8B in the Digital Workbook.

If you would like me to check your writing, you can look at exercise 5a on page 94, and then email a few paragraphs to me for your response to 5c. My email address is: steven.brown@folkuniversitetet.se

That’s all for today.

Steve

 

Lesson 1

Hello everyone, and welcome to the course blog!

This blog is intended to help you get the most out of this course. After each lesson I will update it with a brief outline of what we cover in each lesson, as well as inform you of the homework that has been set. In future blogs I may also include links to videos or other web-pages to read to help your learning.

We began our first lesson by introducing ourselves to each other. It was very nice to meet you all. We have students from a variety of different countries and cultures.

The textbook we will be using is Cambridge English EMPOWER Second Edition Advanced B2  Combo B with Digital Pack.

The easiest and quickest place to buy the book is from Ferdosi Bookshop, Odengatan 21, Stockholm.

These books have a code that will let you use the supporting website for the textbook. You will regularly be given homework from the Digital Workbook which is accessed on this website. The code is on the inside cover of your textbook (You need to carefully scratch the grey material to see the code underneath). You will need then need to scan the QR code OR go to http://www.cambridgeone.org to register your textbook. Before you can register your textbook you will need to create an account. CLICK HERE to see instructions for how to create an account.

*PLEASE NOTE:  You do NOT need to Join a Class, that is only for online courses. However, I recommend you use the ‘Self Study’ section. Please have a look at all of this website, it is very helpful. The ‘Getting Help’ section might be useful if you have any problems.

We began our first lesson by introducing ourselves to each other. It was very nice to meet you all.

After that, we split into pairs and has a long conversation about several general issues related to money and finance. We then looked at the definitions for some specific related vocabulary. Click here for a link to a website that has  examples of vocabulary related to money and finance, as well as some exercises.

We finished by looking at some examples of conditionals. You will read more about First Conditionals and Second Conditionals for homework. (This reading also briefly mentions modal verbs.)

Here is a video that discusses First Conditionals:

Here is a video that discusses the Second Conditional:

For homework you need to read the information for 8A on page 148 and then complete the exercises for 8A on page 149. You should also do the exercises for Unit 8A in the Digital Workbook (or in the black and white setion at the back of the textbook).

That’s all for today.

Steve