Silent letters

Letter First example Second example

island s debris aisle

thumb b dumb lamb

pneumonia p psychiatrist psychology

hymn n autumn condemn

heir h honour hour

calf l talk calm

knowledge k knee knock

reign g foreign sign

Important dates

5/11/2014: Listening report

3/12/2014: Listening test

21/12/2014-4/1/2015: Christmas holiday

3/6/2015: Final class

Online Workbook

Finish Unit 2 (but not 2.26)

Deadline: 19/11/2014

Tandem Learning

The project involves meeting in pairs at your own convenience with a mother tongue speaker of your target language. You can take turns speaking your mother tongues so that the meetings are mutually beneficial.

To register for Tandem Learning contact tandem@cvo-bec.net and mention:

your first name and surnameyour mother tongue and target languageyour level, class and teacher’s nameyour interests and pastimesyour availability: mornings/afternoons/evenings)your email address

We will then look for a match and organize a first meeting during which you can exchange your contact details. We will also provide you with a list of possible conversational topics to get you going.

Past progressive and past perfect progressive (p 133)

1. was just closing up2. ‘d been negotiating3. was still working4. was living 5. ‘d been living6. ‘d been waiting

Unit 2Misunderstandings

Target Activity: Make a Complaint

Britons often complain in a rather indirect way. What do they mean when they say...?

It’s a bit chilly in here.I wish you’d close the window.

Your son would be well advised to work a bit harder.Your son is very lazy.

Your work would benefit from some proofreading.Your work is extremely careless.

Her appearance is not her highest priority.She’s scruffy.

The children tend to be a bit noisy.You can’t hear yourself speak.

Target Activity: Make a Complaint

In pairs:

Have you ever complained in a restaurant about the food or something else? What was the problem?

What was your worst restaurant experience ever?

Target Activity: Make a Complaint

..\Class audio\Listening fragments\English Unlimited CD1\14 Track 14.wma

Target Activity: Complaining and Apologising

I'm sorry to have to say this but...

I'm sorry to bother you, but...

Maybe you forgot to...

I think you might have forgotten to...

Excuse me if I'm out of line, but...

There may have been a misunderstanding about...

Don't get me wrong, but I think we should...

I apologize for...

I must apologize for...

I'd like to apologize for...

I am so sorry for...

I shouldn't have...

Excuse me for ...

I'm terribly sorry for...

Please, accept my apologies for...

Complaining Apologising

Across Cultures: Aspects of Culture

In groups of three or four: Make a list of five things that you find important before moving to or visiting a different country (e.g. Cost of living, food...)

Write down the name of one country that you’d like to move to and one that you wouldn't like to move to (reach a consensus) + explain your choice

Across Cultures: Aspects of Culture

..\Class audio\Listening fragments\English Unlimited CD1\15 Track 15.wma

Topics David talks about: differences between the city and countryside relations between Portuguese people differences between regions weddings food/meals coffee

Across Cultures: Aspects of Culture differences between the city and countryside

people have a tendency to learn languages in the big citiespeople are very helpful to foreigners in the big cities

relations between Portuguese peoplepeople used to be more open and friendly (now people tend to keep to themselves)

differences between regionspeople are quieter in the south (climate?); in the north people are very opinionated

weddingsin the countryside they are very big; in the city they are more expensive but smaller (there’s not always a choir)

food/mealsbetween three and six meals a day (long lunch breaks)

coffeeat least three or four coffees a day

Across Cultures: Aspects of Culture

To keep to yourself (also: to keep yourself to yourself)to not talk to other people very much

He's a very private person - he keeps himself to himself.

To be opinionateddescribes someone who is certain about their beliefs, and who expresses their ideas strongly and often

Across Cultures: Aspects of Culture

Prepare a short talk about your country (take some notes)

Try to paint a realistic picture of what it was or is like to live in your country: don’t just focus on the big, obvious things (e.g. the weather, the food), but also on the details (the pace of life, the bus times, social interactions, daily routines...)

Point out some differences to living in Belgium (or somewhere else).

Talk to someone from a different country

I’ll listen to only one group and these two students will get more detailed feedback

Preparation time: five minutes

Homework

P 21 3a and 5a, 5b