26 May 2007

short overview of todays lesson:

today Julia took over Martins part of (trying to) teach(ing) us English.

the topic was "employment" and "application" and we learned some important vocab. Julia also focused on the correct pronunciation of the used words and how dictionaries often mark the syllable which has to be stressed.

examples:
dis-tri-'bu-tion
dis-'tri-bu-tor


Vocab:

job ad
advertisment
job vacancy ['va-can-cy]
an unoccupied position
application letter [app-li-'ca-tion]['lett-er]
a written request or appeal for employment
resumé
American English for CV
to be shortlisted
to be invited to an interview
applicant ['app-li-cant]
a person who applies for or requests something
candidate ['can-di-date]
an applicant for a position
reference ['ref-er-ence]
a statement, usually written, as to a person's abilities,
etc.
probationary [pro-ba-tion-ary]
under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon


Roland gave a very good presentation concerning if-clauses:

Type 1: Used when expected outcome is very likely

if + simple present + .... will ....

Type 2: Used when outcome is less likely or imaginary

if + simple past + .... would + infinitive ....


Homework (by 2 June 2007)

Market Leader:
p70 read article and answer questions B
p71 C, B (top of page)

19th May 2007

Homework (by 26 May 200)

p85 A, B (Market Leader)

12th May 2007

We have started a new chapter "Employment". The first task was to choose the five most important factors out of a list of "Important factors for getting a job" (in a team of two). Here's how we ranked them:

- appearance
- contacts and connections
- experience
- qualifications
- references

Vocab:
- in order of importance
- how we ranked them
- rank
L---- "Captain"
L---- to order (e.g. according to importance)

After that, we took off to a meta-level and discussed the meaning of the word "meta"cognitive skills:
Maybe it can be described as: Doing something to reach something else (e.g. the way we learn vocab)

Cognitive	Metacognitive
e.g. learning vocab	e.g. how you learn new vocab e.g. in a book using colours

After we've reached the ground of mother earth again, Christian told us the use of SHOULD and Niki held a presentation about Countries, Nationalities & Languages.

General rule:
- All words for countries, nationalities and languages are written with a capital first letter

Articels:
- most country name without the
- except: the US, the UK
- or optional: (the) Lebanon, (the) Gambia

Adjectives:
- -ish: British, Danish, Irish
- -(i)an: American, Korean, Canadian, Austrian
- -ese: Chinese, Japanese
- -i: Pakistani, Iraqi
- -ic: Arabic, Islandic
Exceptions (what else ;)):
- Dutch, Greek, Swiss, Thai, Cypriot

homework (until 19.5.2007)
- p78 A, B, C

as I promised ...

here is the review of our last English class. Not exactly on time (it would be better to write it on the same weekend) but much better compared to my last entry :D

We started with an eye-opener: Martin (our teacher) asked us to write down the topics we can remember from our last lesson (which was 3 weeks before). And surprise, surprise, only one of us (Bob) was able to do what was asked.

And why?

Because Bob was the only one who has made notes of what we did during the last lesson.

What's the consequence?

Martins order: We have to buy a book, label it with the word "ENGLISH" (like in the primary shool) and make notes in it during the upcoming lessons - so we can remember the learned topics even after a few days and weeks.


After that, Martin (the pupil ;-)) held a very good presentation about HAVE TO, MUST, MUST NOT and DON'T HAVE TO. I think now it's clear to all of use when to use which form (hopefully - because otherwise it could be expensive).

During the last hour of the lesson we learned some useful techniques for successful "social english". But be careful: Successful "social english" largely depends on the culture of the involved people. So it's very important to know the cultural differences between the foreign country and yours.

Unfortunately we didn't have time left to play the "cultural game", it would have been much fun. But, maybe the next time.

So long, hope you didn't get bored, cu,
Werner

time is running by

nearly one month has gone by since I last updated my blog and now I sit here and try to remember what we did in our last english class - and I have to admit that it's not easy :-| The most important thing that I learn from this situation is: It will be much more easier to write down a review (at least in my notebook) if I do it directly after class (as Martin told us) - next time it will be better - I promise :-)

Last week I started to read the book "The Gunslinger" from Stephen King (in english of course). It's the first book of the "The Dark Tower"- series (7 books) - and I'm sure that the books will keep me busy a long time :) - I have chosen these book(s) because King has been my favorite writer since ages, although I know that they are not easy to read and there are many words I don't understand.

So long, I'll keep you updated, cu,
Werner