Dec 19, 2012

Speaking: Daily life, routines, jobs


More ideas for Speaking practice!!

Monologue task

Read these 25 questions quickly and then choose 10 to talk about.

1.      What is the best place to work – an office, a factory, a laboratory, outside …?
2.      How has technology changed people’s working lives?
3.      Do women and men do similar jobs? Are they paid the same?
4.      What would be your ideal timetable? What is a normal working week?
5.      Would you prefer to work three 12-hour days or six three-hour days?
6.      What are the three most important things about a job in your opinion?
7.      What is the best age to start work? And the best age to retire? What age do you think you will retire?
8.      How important is it to get on well with your workmates?
9.      Is it normal for people to do lots of overtime? Are they paid extra for this?
10.  Do lots of people do part-time jobs or are most people in full-time jobs?
11.  What is the rate of unemployment? Will it go down soon?
12.  What do you think about working on Sundays?
13.  Is it important to get on with your boss? Is it important to have a nice boss?
14.  What is more important – job satisfaction or a big salary?
15.  What are the highest/lowest paid jobs?
16.  What are the most interesting/boring jobs?
17.  Which of your friends or family has the most interesting job?
18.  What kind of jobs do you need a university degree for?
19.  How much is a fair salary? How much would you like to earn?
20.  What kind of questions do they ask in a job interview?
21.  Is it a good idea to have a good work-life balance?
22.  What’s a ‘workaholic’? Do you know any?
23.  Would you prefer a job where you travel a lot or a job close to home?
24.  What are the advantages of working for yourself?
25.  Why do so many people suffer from work ‘burnout’?

Language Assistants


Seen in BOE...

Resolución de 5 de diciembre de 2012, de la Secretaría de Estado de
Educación, Formación Profesional y Universidades, por la que se convocan
plazas para auxiliares de conversación de lengua española en Centros
educativos para el curso académico 2013-2014.

http://boe.es/boe/dias/2012/12/14/pdfs/BOE-A-2012-15136.pdf

Dec 11, 2012

Prácticas de Refuerzo 2012-13

Just a reminder of the timetables of the Writing and Speaking Reinforcement lessons (Prácticas de Refuerzo de Nivel - PRN)


Wednesdays 18.00-19.00 
with AINOA - Room 1.12

Thursdays 18.00 -19.00 
with ANA – Room 1.4



Dec 9, 2012

French Loanwords in English

Common Pronunciation Patterns

It’s said that about a third of the English lexicon is borrowed from French. Although some of the words do sound or look alien (cul-de-sac or hors d’oeuvres), they’re routinely used in daily conversations. These are some of the most common pronunciation patterns of French Loanwords. (Do you know their meaning?)

/ch/ sounds as /sh/
chef
cliche
champagne
chic
chandelier
chalet
avalanche
quiche

/g/ sounds as /ʒ/
barrage
garage
espionage
massage
mirage
camouflage
sabotage 

the final /t/ is silent 
ballet
depot
fillet
bouquet
gourmet
cabaret
sorbet
beret

the final /ue/ are silent 
boutique
fatigue
antique
unique
oblique
picturesque
plaque
opaque

the final /e/ is pronounced
attache
fiance(e)
resume
cafe
macrame
touche
souffle
matinee 

-eau combination sounds as /əʊ/ 
bureau
bureaucrat
eau de toilette 

final /s/ and /x/ are silent
Grand Prix
debris
chassis
 Taken from English Gateway

Finally, listen to a VOA programme: "Mayday" and other English words with French origin.

Ideas for Speaking: Work, Relationships, Communication


Apart from the Speaking exercises from the book...

Answer these questions, or use them as inspiration, related to the topics we've seen in class.


WORK AND SUCCESS  
1   Which person has inspired you the most?  
2   What is your main ambition?
3   What kind of work would give you job satisfaction?

FAMILY AND PERSONALITY
1   Which three adjectives best describe your personality?
2   Which three adjectives describe personalities that you particularly dislike?
3   Which personal characteristics have you inherited from your parents?
4   When you argue with friends or family, what do you argue about?
5   How much do you know about your family tree? Have you ever researched it?
6   Is there anyone in your family you'd like to know more about?

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
1   Why is it important for you to be good at English?
2   What is the most difficult aspect of the English language for you?
3   Why is English such an important language in the world today?


In your 3-minute presentation you can also talk about one of these statements, saying if you agree or disagree. Give reasons

1   ‘It is not possible to be both successful and happy.’
2   ‘Most people are unhappy in their jobs.’
3   ‘It is not possible for people to be nice to each other all the time.’
4   ‘Most people’s personalities do not change as they get older.’
5   ‘The English language will not be as important in the future as it is now.’ 
6   ‘It is not necessary for everyone to learn a foreign language.’