FCE speaking tips

Decide on all your favourites before entering the examination room.

Do not create a “shopping list” while speaking!

FCE writing and reading tips

Active and Passive Voice

Christmas videos and New Year’s Resolutions

• New Year’s Resolutions for English Language Learners: https://youtu.be/XZUb69IocuA 
• Funny scene of Friends: https://youtu.be/UV7fZd7gjJ8 
• Phrases expressing resolutions: https://youtu.be/SVJRq2ezhFQ 

• Christmas Karaoke https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF22689E438E0C08A

• Crazy Christmas traditions around the world https://youtu.be/wFXkazFvFI8

• The Gingerbread Man story https://youtu.be/pckuS--UlV4

• A Christmas Carol - short version https://youtu.be/HqMfGq3okZY

• Mr Bean’s Christmas https://youtu.be/HKUY_gOxLas

• Nightmare Before Christmas- when Jack discovers Christmastown https://youtu.be/yXo-mqmiGew

Halloween videos

Funny:

Friends - Halloween Party, Part 1

Friends - Halloween Party, Part 2

History of the celebration:

Halloween History - Animated for Kids

Girl and boy

Once upon a time, there was a girl who had a dog. Her parents had gone on an excursion and told her when she was afraid to put her hand under the bed where her dog was. One night she listened to the sound of the bath and put his hand under the bed. 

The dog was sorry and he was not afraid of the other. The other evening the same night was heard and the girl was tired of listening to all of them. so they went to the bathroom and when they came back her parents ... the girl together with the dog were hanging in the toilet and in the mirror she said that only the dog

Helen’s nightmare

Helen had just turned twelve. That evening on Tuesday October 19th, she had laid down early when her mother's voice awakened her. The voice came from the lower floor. "Helen, come down quickly to the kitchen. I want to speak to you" Helen, clearly annoyed and sleepy, came out barefoot and before her bare foot touched the first step, a hand pulled her violently back. It belonged to her mother, who was scared to whisper "I heard it too".

Halloween competition: Write a ghost story!

Letter of expressing a preference

Dear Editor,
     I read the article in your newspaper about the refreshment bar and the vending machines. As far as I know, it would be better to provide a refreshment bar.
     First of all, the refreshment bar will contain lots of healthy food for young people to eat. Moreover, eating healthy food and watching its benefits on them will probably make them want to buy and consume more and more. If that doesn't work and teenagers aren't buying this kind of food because they might prefer unhealthy snacks, classes should be set up about healthy eating and explain to them what is best for their diet.
     The vending machines would be a bad idea. The reason for this is that they sell junk food, such as fizzy drinks, potato chips, candy bars to name but a few. Furthermore, this food won't be nutritional and won't give them the energy that is needed to keep them focused, clear minded, energetic and healthy.
     To sum up, I believe that the best idea would be the refreshment bar. I hope my thoughts will be considered.

              Yours sincerely,
                     George Georgandelis

Webinar on ECCE writing: Simplified criteria and corrected samples

ECCE writing: Corrected letters and the marking criteria

My favourite photograph

This photograph was taken when I went on holidays to Poland. This summer my brother and I visited our father who lives in a big town in Poland called Gdynia. We went for a walk and we saw those padlocks. They symbolize the love between two persons who want to lock their relationship with this purpose. This phenomenon started many years ago when a king loved a woman. The woman was poor but she was beautiful as the myth said. The king wanted to marry her and he gave her a present. The present was a padlock with a key in the shape of a heart. That is an old but interesting story about this bridge with love-locks!!

My favourite photograph

This is one of my favourite photos. I took it while I was on a four-day trip to Thessaloniki with the 3rd grade of my junior high school. At the time, we were in a small village in Edessa near Thesalloniki. I love this photo because we had a beautiful view from up there.

ECCE SPEAKING

Official complete speaking: https://youtu.be/cN2FoaeEwIc

Tips for Part 1: https://youtu.be/23ISOxFzmG4

Tips for Part 2: https://youtu.be/VjEi8wCep-s

Tips for Part 3: https://youtu.be/R2fgaxDIDco

Tips for Part 4: https://youtu.be/vHmVFv7gXgI

Examples:

Part 2: https://youtu.be/gDRJ8HZMc_Q

Part 3: https://youtu.be/yAK0WhfC07o