May 22

National Test: Speaking1

We'll meet at twenty past eight as usual, which will give us plenty of time to prepare for the speaking test. You will be asked to speak with a friend for 15 minutes.

If you have not done the other parts of the test it is not too late. You will be able to do the test during the coming week.

See you tomorrow
/Birgitta

May 20

Today we will do the writing test!

We eill start at 12.10 sharp. You will have 80 minutes to complete your essay. You will be asked to write a minimum of 250 words and no more than 600 words.

When you are writing remember to:

• Read the instruction carefully. When you have finished writing - please read the instuction once more and see to it that you have followed it.
• Make a plan for your essay before you start writing.
• Use paragraphs and try to structure your text.
• When you have finished writing you need to check your verbs, your spelling and confirm that you have not used chat language such as "i", "u" etc.
• Only use English words! If you can´t think of a word, try to rephrase it.
• Don´t be nervous, see this as an opportunity to express yourself and your opinion.

I ´m looking forward to reading your essay!

HERE you can find the grading criteria.

HERE you can find examples of old exames.

May 15

Today we will do the reading and listening test. The test will begin at 8.30 sharp!

HERE you can find examples of older exams.

Good luck!
/Birgitta

May 13

Today we will focus on preparations for the National test. On Thursday we will do the reading and listening part.


Listening:
A Canadian Holiday, HERE you can find the text. HERE you can find the clip.

Reading:
1.  The Summer of 63. You will find the text HERE.
2. From One Life to Another. You will find the text HERE.
3. Short texts 1. You will find the text HERE.

May 8

1. We discuss the novels you are reading.

2. We revise our grammar skills:

• The verbs do and make. You can read about them HERE.
• When to use the present simple and when to use the present continuous. You can read about it HERE.
• How to use the apostrophe. You can read about it HERE.
• Useful conjunctions. Read more HERE.

3. Listening comprehension: HERE you will find parts of movies, check them out and answer the questions.

The beginning of the novel Numbers!

HERE you will find a link to amazon, press the picture of the book to read the first few pages. You can also find that you can listen to the beginning of the book.

I hope you enjoy reading, we will discuss it on Thursday.

/Birgitta

May 6

1. Feedback on the reading comprehension test we did last week. You will found the test HERE. You will find the key HERE.

2. We discuss the novels we are reading: Main character, setting, genre and language.

3. Listening Comprehension: What´s the topic? You can find the answering sheet and the sound HERE

4. Discussion: Stress

5. We revise punctuation, paragraphs and important grammar.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN FIND A LIST OF THE ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE COURSE HERE.

As the course is coming to an end you need to tic off the assignments. Send your assignments to birgitta.hultkrantz-bremler@upplands-bro.se

April 29

Please check the list of assignments HERE.

1. We listen to Newsreel. You will find the program HERE. You will find the questions HERE.

2. Read the musical memories and give feedback.

3. Novel suggestions.

4. Mock NP.

5. Letter to the editor.

April 24

1. Discussion: Can you trust a politician?

2. Grammar practice

3. Listening comprehension: The River Police, you will find the questions HERE. You can listen HERE.

4. Reading Comprehension: The Royal River, you will find the text HERE.

5. Discuss the following topics in pairs. Use argumentative language!

Should animals be used for research?
Should cigarette smoking be banned?
Are cell phones dangerous?
Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy?
Are test scores a good indication of a school's competency?
Do we have a throw-away society?
Is child behavior better or worse than it was years ago?

6. We read our Musical Memories and give feedback.

Homework for Tuesday: Go to the library and borrow a novel (in English of course!).

April 22

We watch "A Mother´s Promise" and answer the following questions. You will find the clip HERE.

1. What promise do we make our children?
2. Does he consider his story possible in any other country?
3. How often did he meet his father?
4. Why did his mother wake him up at 4.00 a.m?
5. What did she say if he grumbled?
6. When was the only time he saw his mother really angry?
7. What problems were there in Chicago at the time?
8. What does Barack think about his name?
9.Tax cuts for______________, welfare to________________________and _____________for those without.
10. What are the values he wants to pass on to the next generation?
11. What was one of the toughest moments in his life?
12. What did he wave when he sat on his grandfather´s shoulders?

We read an example of a letter to the editor and discuss argumentative language.

Discussion. You will find the topic and the instructions HERE.

Listening practice: Where are they? You will find the questions HERE. You will find the clip HERE

Grammar practice

Happy Easter!

I hope you are enjoying your Easter Holiday.
If you, however, are longing for some extra English practice you can...

Listen to Newsreel HERE. and try to answer the questions HERE. If you find listening to English difficult, Newsreel is a good startingpoint. Please observe that you can listen to older broadcasts as well (same website).

Read a text on vegetarianism HERE. Please note that at the end of the text you will find exercices to do. On the same website you will also find more texts to read.

Remember... these are optional assignments for those of you who want to practice some more.

If you were not at school last week, please check the previous blog entry and try to catch up.

See you on Tuesday!

Aril 17

1. Discussion:

a. Should radio stations ban music? Why? Why not?

b. Should there be music-free zones? Why? Why not?

2.  Watch the first part on a documetary on earworms. You will find the link HERE.

3. Read examples of essays on the topic A Good Life. E, C, A

4. Now read your essay once more, is there anything you want to revise?

5. Listen to Ten Journeys of a Lifetime. You will find the link HERE.

6. Grammar

 

 

 

Sorry folks, no lesson on Tuesday - Homework instead!

As I have to attend a meeting Tuesday afternoon you will have to study on your own at home. Please note that this only affects your English lesson.

Thursday is NOT a holiday, we will have English as usual.

Homework:

1. Please mail your revised essay, A Musical Memory, to
birgitta.hultkrantz-bremler@upplands-bro.se

2. Read pages 194 - 204 in Context (chapter 15)

Answer the questions on page 204 (A and B). Please send me your answers before Thursday.

3. Be prepared to discuss the following questions on Thursday,

a. Should radio stations ban music? Why? Why not?

b. Should there be music-free zones? Why? Why not?


Good luck and have a really good weekend!

Birgitta

April 10

A. More on the Scottish referendum...

Watch a clip in which Alex Salmon speaks on Scotland as an independant country. Answer the following questions:

1. Salmon says that Scotland would be a country with a promising future. Please give two examples of this.

2. What would, according to Salmon, be the challenges for the country?

You can find the clip HERE.

B. Here are some of the songs you have written about:

I´ll Be Missing You

Knocking on Heaven´s Door

Rap Das Armas

C. Listen to ten people describing their jobs.

You can find the clip HERE under "Focus: Listening", Matching "What´s my line", "Ljudfil"
You can find the answering sheet HERE.

April 8

A. Current events in the Engslish speaking world!
 Watch a clip in which David Cameron gives a speech on Scotland and answer the following questions:

1.What is team GB?

2. When will there be a referendum in Scotland?

3. For how long has Scotland been a part of Great Britain?

4. What do recent polls show?

What does RBS stand for?

You can find the clip HERE.

B.
You can find the complete list of irregular verbs HERE.

C. Workout 19 and translate 5 on page 282.

D. Listen to the music Nick Hornby wrote a musical memory on and retell what he wrote. You will find the music HERE. Hand in your first draft.

E. Chapter 15, 3x Music, page 194