Selected screenshots of a recent Cambridge English webinar on B2 writing.
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Cities: YouTube videos as food for thought
Video links for use in a B2 discussion on cities (Stay Connected Unit 10, p. 121)
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Computer room activity on Poetry
International Day of Poetry 21st March: Dead Poets’ Society
Watch the videos, read the poem and write down your thoughts in a comment, answering the question:
Why do we read and write poetry? How will the inclusion of poetry in the national school curriculum help the development of the young minds?
(Remember to turn the profile you are using for this blog from a Google+ one to a simple Blogger profile if you are currently using your Google+ information to sign in here, as this platform is soon to be shut down. Go to the settings of your account to fix this.)
Watch the videos, read the poem and write down your thoughts in a comment, answering the question:
Why do we read and write poetry? How will the inclusion of poetry in the national school curriculum help the development of the young minds?
(Remember to turn the profile you are using for this blog from a Google+ one to a simple Blogger profile if you are currently using your Google+ information to sign in here, as this platform is soon to be shut down. Go to the settings of your account to fix this.)
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Idioms
An extract from a post on justpublishingadvice.com:
A common figure of speech often uses an inanimate object to give a figurative instead of a literal meaning.
Did you know? Figures of speech in the picture above:
1. Put all eggs in one basket = Having all of your resources in one place; putting your money or hopes or future into one thing
2. Wear one's heart on one's sleeve = display one’s emotions openly
3. An ace up one's sleeve = a surprise or secret advantage, especially something tricky that is kept hidden until needed.
4. The joker in the pack= If you describe someone or something as the joker in the pack, you mean that they are different from the other people or things in their group, and can be unpredictable.
5. Don’t trust one's own shadow= not believe or trust people easily
6. Coming out of one's ears= (figurative) very numerous or abundant. (As if people or things were coming in great numbers from many sources including unlikely ones.)
7. Spill the beans= reveal the secret
8. Red herring= A red herring is something that misleads or distracts from a relevant or important question. It may be either a logical fallacy or a literary device that leads readers or audiences toward a false conclusion.
9. Big cheese= the most important person
10. Time flies= time passes quickly
11. Piece of cake =very easy to be done
12. Can't make an omelet without breaking an egg= If you say you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, you mean that it is impossible to achieve something important without there being some bad effects. Note: `Omelette' is usually spelled `omelet' in American English.
13. Like a cat chasing its tail= chase (one's) tail To take action that is ineffectual and does not lead to progress. Refers to how a dog or a cat can exhaust itself by chasing its own tail.
14. Tie the knot= to get married
15. To be born with a silver spoon in your mouth or born with a silver spoon in your mouth= If you think that someone has a lot of advantages because they have a rich or influential family, you can say that they have been born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
16 Bird’s eye view= a view from a high angle as if seen by a bird in flight or an overall or cursory look at something
17 A stitch in time saves nine= if you sort out a problem immediately, it may save extra work later
18 Tough nut to crack (plural tough nuts to crack) = A problem that is challenging to solve. (idiomatic, by extension) A situation, person, group, etc. which is difficult to deal with. (idiomatic) A place, opportunity, etc. to which it is difficult to gain entry. An amount that is difficult to finance.
19 Ride one’s coattails= To benefit from someone else's success; to use someone else's success as a means to achieve one’s own.
20 Get cold feet= hesitate or have second thoughts about sth
21 Sth is full of holes= Unsound or flawed; having many faults that do not stand up to scrutiny or criticism. Alludes to a leaky, porous vessel—hence the related expression, "doesn't hold water."
22 The cherry on the cake= A desirable feature perceived as the finishing touch to something that is already inviting or worth having. Related Idioms : a bite at the cherry. an attempt or chance to do something.
23 Kick the bucket = to die, pass away
24 Hit the nail on the head= do or say something that is precisely right
25 Cat got one's tongue= Used when someone has nothing to say.
26 An earworm= (informal) a song that you keep hearing in your head
27 Pull your socks up = If someone tells you to pull your socks up, they want you to improve your behaviour or work.
Now visit these websites to find out about the surprising origin of most of these idioms. Then, use this information to write as many example sentences as possible in the comments below.
The Idioms - Largest Idioms Dictionary
PHRASES.ORG.UK
Idioms and phrases - The Free Dictionary
A common figure of speech often uses an inanimate object to give a figurative instead of a literal meaning.
Very often we use similes and metaphors to express an idea or concept. Idioms are another type of figurative speech.
Figure of speech examples
We often use an object to create emphasis. For example, “It’s raining cats and dogs” and “I’ll give you a hand.”
If you are a writer, you are using words and expressions both literally and figuratively all the time. You might be trying to create verbal irony, express human qualities or add colour to your text.
Some forms use word order or repetition, such as, “In the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Others can use a chiasmus, where the second part of the expression is balanced against the first. For example, “you should work to live, not live to work.”
Exaggeration, or hyperbole in literary terms, can quickly turn literal language into figurative. “I have a million things to do at the office today”, or, “it cost me an arm and a leg.”
The opposite, of course, is understatement. “It’s only a scratch” when referring to a deep or nasty wound. Or, “It’s a little fresh today” when the temperature is well below zero. Or, “Tiger Woods was a half-decent golf player in his prime.”
Other figure of speech examples include euphemisms.They are a very common form of saying something in a way that is not as blunt or direct. He passed away instead of he died. I’m going to let you go to replace you’re fired. Or, it fell off the back of a truck, when in fact, it was stolen.
Some expressions use alliteration, where a consonant sound is repeated. Examples include, “I’m as busy as a bee” and “It’s as dead as a doornail.”
 |
| Cartoon by Ella Baron in the Times Literary Supplement on Twitter. |
Did you know? Figures of speech in the picture above:
1. Put all eggs in one basket = Having all of your resources in one place; putting your money or hopes or future into one thing
2. Wear one's heart on one's sleeve = display one’s emotions openly
3. An ace up one's sleeve = a surprise or secret advantage, especially something tricky that is kept hidden until needed.
4. The joker in the pack= If you describe someone or something as the joker in the pack, you mean that they are different from the other people or things in their group, and can be unpredictable.
5. Don’t trust one's own shadow= not believe or trust people easily
6. Coming out of one's ears= (figurative) very numerous or abundant. (As if people or things were coming in great numbers from many sources including unlikely ones.)
7. Spill the beans= reveal the secret
8. Red herring= A red herring is something that misleads or distracts from a relevant or important question. It may be either a logical fallacy or a literary device that leads readers or audiences toward a false conclusion.
9. Big cheese= the most important person
10. Time flies= time passes quickly
11. Piece of cake =very easy to be done
12. Can't make an omelet without breaking an egg= If you say you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, you mean that it is impossible to achieve something important without there being some bad effects. Note: `Omelette' is usually spelled `omelet' in American English.
13. Like a cat chasing its tail= chase (one's) tail To take action that is ineffectual and does not lead to progress. Refers to how a dog or a cat can exhaust itself by chasing its own tail.
14. Tie the knot= to get married
15. To be born with a silver spoon in your mouth or born with a silver spoon in your mouth= If you think that someone has a lot of advantages because they have a rich or influential family, you can say that they have been born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
16 Bird’s eye view= a view from a high angle as if seen by a bird in flight or an overall or cursory look at something
17 A stitch in time saves nine= if you sort out a problem immediately, it may save extra work later
18 Tough nut to crack (plural tough nuts to crack) = A problem that is challenging to solve. (idiomatic, by extension) A situation, person, group, etc. which is difficult to deal with. (idiomatic) A place, opportunity, etc. to which it is difficult to gain entry. An amount that is difficult to finance.
19 Ride one’s coattails= To benefit from someone else's success; to use someone else's success as a means to achieve one’s own.
20 Get cold feet= hesitate or have second thoughts about sth
21 Sth is full of holes= Unsound or flawed; having many faults that do not stand up to scrutiny or criticism. Alludes to a leaky, porous vessel—hence the related expression, "doesn't hold water."
22 The cherry on the cake= A desirable feature perceived as the finishing touch to something that is already inviting or worth having. Related Idioms : a bite at the cherry. an attempt or chance to do something.
 |
| Taken from here. |
23 Kick the bucket = to die, pass away
24 Hit the nail on the head= do or say something that is precisely right
25 Cat got one's tongue= Used when someone has nothing to say.
26 An earworm= (informal) a song that you keep hearing in your head
27 Pull your socks up = If someone tells you to pull your socks up, they want you to improve your behaviour or work.
Now visit these websites to find out about the surprising origin of most of these idioms. Then, use this information to write as many example sentences as possible in the comments below.
The Idioms - Largest Idioms Dictionary
PHRASES.ORG.UK
Idioms and phrases - The Free Dictionary
Sunday, February 10, 2019
The evolution of art
Watch the video, having activated the English subtitles, and reflect on the following:
What is your favourite art period?
What is your favourite art movement?
What is your favourite art period?
What is your favourite art movement?
Bonus reading: Italian Renaissance facts (related to our class discussion)
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
FCE: COMPUTER BASED TEST OFFERED BY CAMBRIDGE
Free: Computer-based sample tests
- Watch this tutorial before you start.
- Check your answers as you do the test. Once the test has finished you will not be able to check them.
Answer keys:
There is no answer key for the Writing paper, but there are sample answers and examiner comments on the relevant pages of the B2 First handbook.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
The History of English
The English language spoken today has evolved over a period of approximately 1500 years, or better since the arrival of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes on the shores of England around the 5th century.
They brought with them various Germanic languages that would gradually evolve into the English we speak today.
During those 1500 years, the English language has added or ‘borrowed’ words from many other languages to create a rich, complex and sophisticated language. In some cases, an existing English word has been replaced with one from a different language, in other cases the new word has been added as a variation or alternative to the English original.
English is now a language full of ‘loan words’.
https://www.sutori.com/story/the-history-of-english
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Revising writing
Please read and reflect on these posts:
1) https://markaki-b2.blogspot.com/2017/10/webinar-on-ecce-writing-simplified.html
2) https://markaki-b2.blogspot.com/2017/10/ecce-writing-corrected-letters-and.html
1) https://markaki-b2.blogspot.com/2017/10/webinar-on-ecce-writing-simplified.html
2) https://markaki-b2.blogspot.com/2017/10/ecce-writing-corrected-letters-and.html
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Writing an article
WRITING
ARTICLES
PLAN
- Opening- Paragraph 1
Introduce the topic.
- Body- Paragraph 2
Say how your interests developed
- Body- Paragraph 3
- Conclusion- Paragraph 4
OPENINGS
- ask a question :What would you say if I told you my hobby was reading?
- gives a general statement about the topic: Many people believe you to have to be a gifted artist to enjoy painting
- says the task makes you think about the topic: It's not easy for me to decide what my favourite pastime is.
Try to support your ideas with examples from your own general knowledge or personal experience.
IMPROVE YOUR STYLE
Expressing your ideas in a variety of ways makes your writing more interesting.
WRITING AN ARTICLE
1) Analyse the task: Who is going to read the article? What kind of information should you include?
2) Brainstorm ideas: Where do you go in the summer? What do you enjoy doing? How often do you do this activity? Is this activity something you do alone or with others? Why does this activity appeal to others?
3) Organize your article: Use the plan
4) Write your article: Remember to write a catchy opening and to support your ideas with examples.
CNN news can be fun!
CNN articles on current affairs with a number of words explained for you.
https://en.news/lesson-browser/lesson-store
You can learn the ropes by clicking here first:
https://en.news/lessonPlayer/19275-zxx-en/learn/1/1/1?disableResume=false
https://en.news/lesson-browser/lesson-store
You can learn the ropes by clicking here first:
https://en.news/lessonPlayer/19275-zxx-en/learn/1/1/1?disableResume=false
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
The reasons behind the success of a company
In this video we watch the Bill Gross describes how a company can become successful. Bill Gross has founded a lot of startups, and incubated many others and he got curious about why some succeeded and others failed. So he
gathered data from hundreds of companies, his own and other people's,
and ranked each company on five key factors. He found one factor that
stands out from the others and surprised even him. This video was helpful for me and all the other people who want to create a company.
Helping others
This is my favourite video! It is about helping other people. In my opinion it is very important to help people who live next to us . We should be grateful for all the things we have and we shouldn't make a fuss for everything, because other hymans haven't got enough money to buy food or pay for their children's education.
If we have a lot of money, it would be nice to give some money to humans who really need that!I hope you like this video because it has a strong message !
A Message To All Women
This is one of my favourite videos with meaning. I like this video because it gives a strong message about women. How we are worth it and deserve more than we think.We know that women used to be really dependent and didn’t have many opportunities.This video talks all about that and more. We all have the same rights and chances.I for sure recommend it .Go Watch it! You are awesome!!!
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