Halloween listening activity

Click here:

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/autumn-festivals/halloween/halloween-in-the-usa-listening.html

Watch the video twice and try to answer all the quiz questions under the video.

Do you know the vocabulary under the quiz?

Now listen to this song!

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/songs/halloween/this-is-halloween.html 

*General plan for an essay expressing your opinion*

General plan fo an essay expressing your opinion
~Introduction Par.1
*Refer to the topic e.g. Many people wish they had money.
*State your opinion e.g. Money doesn't bring happiness.


~Par.2
*Give the other point of view and explain why you don't agree with it e.g. Money buys things but not friends, love and health.


~Par.3
*Give additional reasons to support your opinion e.g. Rich people have problems, stress and boring life.


~Conclusion Par.4
*Summarize your arguments and restate your opinion e.g. Money doesn't bring happiness.

Opinion essay about saving money

Essay: Expressing Your Opinion

1. Read and analyze the task.

•   What statement must you discuss? Do you agree or disagree with the statement?
•   What point(s) in the article can you use to support your opinion

2. Brainstorm ideas

   Should people save for the future

 Yes:  save for a rainy day / save up for one's children and grandchildren / not get into debt

 No:  life is short / live for the moment

  

  How could you spend your money to make the quality of your life better?

  

•   have fun
• travel around the world
• enjoy an extravagant lifestyle

Opinion ESSAY

                                                 Essay:Expressing your opinion

                                                         WRITNIG GUIDE

Introducing:Paragraph 1
Many of us wish...
I personally believe...
The way I see it...
In my experience...

Paragraph 2-3
I think...
It is true that...but...
In my opinion,...
First of all...
For one thing...{for another}...
In addition...
Moreover...
Secondly...
Finally...

Conclusion:Paragraph 4
To sum up...
Although...
Even thought...

Speaking Part 2:Help solve a problem

             ~~~Help solve a problem~~~

Summing up the information
On the one hand...                                                                                  Speaking Guide

On the other hand...

You mentioned (that)...                                   

As you said...

Giving advice

I think you should/could...

My advice is to...

Why dont you...

If i were you, I'd....

The best thing to do is (to)...

Topic vocabulary

borrow               earn money

lend                   (ir)responsible

save                   a valuable item

   it's waste of time

LETTER OF ADVICE UNIT 1

LETTER OF ADVICE /WRITING GUIDE 
1.Read and analyze the letter and task.
- Who are you writing to ? 
- At troubled roommate 
-Where wiil your letter appear ?
- Appear to newspaper 
- What is troubled roommate problem ?
- Troubled roommate's problems are that he cant put up with roommates noise and he has to do most of the cleaning up 
- What kind of advice should you give ? 
- To make practical suggestions offer to do some things.

2. Brainstorm ideas 
THINK SUGGESTIONS YOU COULD MAKE TO TROUBLED ROOMMATE
A) Tell your roommate exactly how you feel 
B) Ask them to use headphones , etc. 

3. Organize your ideas . Follow the plan on page 14 of student book 

GENERAL PLAN OF IDEAS / DETAILED PLAN 
OPENING - PARAGRAPH 1
Refer to the writer's problem. Show sympathy and understanding.   TOO MUCH CHORES  
                                                                                                                   AT HOME 
                                                                                                  ANDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL 

PARAGRAPH 2 Give advice. Add examples to support your ideas
PARAGRAPH 3 Give more advice and more examples 
                                                                                      TALK TO YOUR PARENTS 
                                                                                       FIND A SUITABLE TIME 
                                                                                        MAKE PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
CLOSING - PARAGRAPH 4 
Sum up and say you hope your advice helps  SHOW YOUR PARENTS THAT YOUR 
                                                                                          MATURE 
                                                                             I HOPE THIS ADVICE HELPS YOU 


4. WRITE YOUR LETTER . THINK ABOUT LANGUAGE . USE THE EXPRESSIONS BELOW . REMEMBER TO USE LANGUAGE FOR GIVING ADVICE AND TO USE EXAMPLES TO SUPPORT YOUR IDEAS. 

OPENING : PARAGRAPH 1 
Its not easy when ...
I had a similar problem...
I know what its like to ... have noise roommates 
I'm sure you feel irritated when your roommates disturb you but there are solution 
It can be very annoying when your roommates are so noisy but there are solution 

PARAGRAPH 2-3 
EXPRESSIONS FOR GIVING ADVICE 
Try to...
If I were you, I....
You should /could ...
What about ....

1) THE BEST THING TO DO IS ....
2) IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO ...
3) ITS NOT GOOD TO ... 
4) SOS: I SUGGEST + VERB - ING ...


CLOSING - PARAGRAPH 4 

Im sure / I hope that you will soon ...
I think it will help to try these suggestions...
I hope everything works out for you...

5. CHECK YOUR LETTER CAREFULLY WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED. DID YOU USE LANGUAGE FOR GIVING ADVICE AND EXAMPLES TO SUPPORT YOUR IDEAS ? 

SPEAKING UNIT 2

PART 2: HELP SOLVING A PROBLEM
PLAN 
1) Repeat the Problem quickly ( ON THE ONE HAND /ON THE OTHER HAND ) 
2) Say which option I choose 
3) Why I choose it by using the Examiner's information in stage 2
4) Say which picture/option I don't choose 
5) Say why I don't choose it by using the Examiner's information in stage 2 
6) Sum up in a few words what my suggestion is .

HELP SOLVE A PROBLEM SPEAKING GUIDE 

SUMMING UP THE INFORMATION 
.........On the one hand .........
.........On the other hand ........
.........You mentioned ( that) .......
......... As you said ........

GIVING ADVICE 

I think you should / could .......
My advice is to ......
Why dont you ........
If i were you , I'd ........
I think the best thing to do is ( to )........

TOPIC VOCABULARY 

Borrow                                               Earn money 
Lend                                                    (Ir) responsible 
Save                                                     A valuable item 
It's a waste of money                          Has sentimental value 
Promise to pay ( you) back                 Reliable 
Trustworth 

Useful speaking phrases

 Help solve a problem

summing up the information

• on the one hand...
• on the other hand...
• you mentioned (that)...
• as you said...

Giving advice

• I think you should / could...
• my advice is to...
• Why don't you...
• If I were you, I'd...
• I think the best think to do is (to)...

Topic vocabulary

• borrow
• lend
• save
• it's a waste of money
• promise to pay (you) back
• earn money
• (ir) responsible
• a valuable item
• has sentimental value

Letter of advice

                                                  Writing GUIDE

                                                LETTER OF ADVICE 

 Opening:Paragraph 1
It's not easy when...
I had a similar problem with....
I know what it's like to...
I'm surely you fell irritated when... but...
It can be very annoying when... but...


 Paragraphs 2-3

Expressions for giving advice 
Try to...
If I were you I'd...
You could/should...
What about...
The best thing to do is...
It might be a good idea to...
It's not good to...
I suggest...


 Closing:Paragraph 4
I am sure/I hope that you will soon...
I think it will help to try these suggestions.
I hope everything works out for you.

FCE LINKS

(FCE) Assessment commentary and marks: Florine and Maria

Watch the video on YouTube.


Related posts on this blog:

MORE CAMBRIDGE EXAM MATERIAL

SPEAKING TIPS BY CAMBRIDGE EXAMINERS

FCE REVISION LINKS

ALL FCE POSTS

Review

   I believe Star Wars 7 is an amazing,action-packed film with outstanding special effects all teenagers should watch.
    First of all,there are 4 main characters,Po who is one of the best pilots on the rebellion,Jason who is the  protagonist and he is on the good side,too.Additionally,there is Lyla who is a woman fated to defeat the bad guy and restore balance over the universe and finally, Kylo Ren who is the bad guy and wants to kill Lyla so that no one will be able to stop him from taking over the world.This film is based on two sides fighting each other,the dark side which the villains are on,and the rebellion which our heroes are on.
    Moreover, this movie contains breathtaking fights with lightsabers and spaceships that will keep you on the edge of your seat.I also recommend adolescents like me to check this film out because it contains a variety of characters with different personalities and also the Star Wars movies are some of the best films that have ever existed!
   To conclude,I recommend to people around my age to watch Star Wars 7 because it has an awesome story,graphics and many characters so that the viewers will never get bored.

A film for all teenagers

   Over the past years, I've seen different types of movies,but I have to choose one that is interesting and breath taking. In this case, "The Lord Of The Rings" is worth reviewing.
   This film is about a  ring which is the only one that can change the heroes' personality from good to bad. However, the only way the ring can be destroyed is by fire. Frodo, who is the main character, is a short boy whith dark coloured hair and blue eyes. In addition, he inherts the ring from his uncle he tries to destroy it. Another main character is the Gollum, a small monster with enormous feet and hands, grey hair, violet skin and blue eyes. The Gollum wants to take the ring and become the king.So, it does anything to take it. There are ,also, some other characters, Frodo's friends, who help him and vilains who try for the opposite, to defend the ring. So all the story is around this jewellery and the efforts for its extinction.
     I beleve that this movie is worthwhile to see because of the special effects, the plot and the amazing the scenes. Except that, most teenagers would like it. The adventure of this movie makes the viewer feel the suspense at all times.
     All in all,   "The Lord Of The Rings"is a movie that everyone should see, from teenagers to adults, because it is a different story from the other ones and everyone would love it.

A film for Teens

I would recommend to young people to watch the Harry Potter franchise.It is a film with great characters, an interesting world and mystery that most teenagers would enjoy as well as older people.

The franchise is complete and includes 8 movies.Its main story is about a boy living in the normal world named Harry Potter.He lives with his uncle, his aunt and his cousin.They don't get along with each other really well and all the family is mean to him and sometimes just ignores him.However all this changes when Harry receives a letter from Hogwarts, a school for magicians that is in the world of wizards.There he makes many valuable friends, but also some deadly enemies.

The main charachters are Harry Potter, Ron Weasly, Hermione Granger, Harry's uncle ,aunt and cousin, and Voldemort.There are also many more interesting and important characters in the franchise.Ron and Hermione are the two wizards that are Harry's best friends and his classmates.Voldemort is the main villain of the films that tries to kill Harry because of past events and his evil intents. Harry's uncle, aunt and cousin took responsibility of Harry since he was a baby and his parents died because of Voldemort.

To conclude, I would recommend these films because they are interesting, with a lot of action, adventure and mystery that I believe many teenagers would enjoy. However, it is also a film that even older people could easily watch, too.

Freedom Writers

  This is a review of a dramatic movie which is called "Freedom Writers". It is based on the book "The Freedom Writers Diary " by Erin Gruwell.
  The story begins in a disreputable neighbourhood in California with gangs fighting every day .Erin Gruwell is just starting her first teaching job.Despite choosing the school on purpose because of its integration program, Erin is unprepared for the nature of her classroom whose students live only for protecting their own life at all costs. Many are in gangs and almost all know somebody that has been killed because of gang violence. Erin tries harder and harder to have resources provided to teach properly which ofter has results like paying for them by herself. She gives to students diaries to write about what is happening in their lives. She tries to make the students see the world in a different way. Even if the class has students from different gangs, at the end everyone helps each other.
  To conclude, in my opinion it's a great film because it is all about tolerance. It shows what is happening all around the world by illustrating a small community with different gangs from other countries and cultures fighting. I loved the movie and I would like to read the book, too. I certainly recommend young people of my age age to watch this movie because it teaches us life lessons.