Merry Christmas all!

May your Christmas be filled with joy and happiness. Best wishes!

Actividades para o portfolio

Actividades a incluir no portfolio

The Well - chapter 1
Dictation - Mr Bean working day
That's not right - small talk activity
The Well - chapter 2
The Well - chapter 3
Best ways to learn English
The Well - chapter 4
What's the best job in the world?
Ñews about Britain
Because Christmas is near...

Trabalho individual
Curriculum vitae (europass format)
Video CV

Relembro que é obrigatória a inclusão de todos os trabalhos.
Aproveito para relembrar que poderão entregar o portfolio até 27 de Dezembro.

Because Christmas is near... (Portfolio Assignment)

Love Actually is one of my favourite films, I keep on watching it every year at Christmas time, because it has the gift of awakening all my best qualities.

Jamie and Aurelia are two characters who end up falling in love. However they have a problem regarding communication: She can only speak Portuguese and he only speaks English, so it's hard for them to get understood.

You are going to watch a short dialogue between them and then you have to create subtitles for Aurelia's speech, in English, of course (devido ao facto do vídeo inicial ter sido retirado do You Tube, quem ainda não fez traduz agora a partir do minuto 3:58 - a cena é a mesma, mas não foi possível encontrar outro vídeo só com essa cena.)

Watch Jamie and Aurelia scene

News about Britain - The Apprentice (Portfolio assignment)

Read the text by clicking on the link below and then answer the following questions.

The Apprentice

Are the sentences True or False (quote form the text to account for your answer) ? Or is the answer not given in the text?

1. The Apprentice is a TV game show.
2. Sir Alan Sugar is a successful business man in the UK.
3. The weekly tasks test how well the potential apprentices work together.
4. The winner of The Apprentice will get a job with an annual salary of at least 100,000 euros.
5. The winner of The Apprentice will get Sir Alan Sugar's job.
   

Being Polite

This presentation was aimed for the week starting on the 30th November.
The classes which did not have lessons, due to the public holiday, should analyse it. It is very simple. If you have any trouble with the tasks provided, feel free to ask.

Being Polite

View more presentations from lurdescmartins.

What is the most important thing when applying for a job?

Is appearance an important feature when applying for a job?
What do you think should be the most valued things?

Why don't you engage in the blogging world?

Para que não digam que não compreenderam :-)

A filosofia de um blog é, antes de mais uma partilha de ideias. Mas, pelos vistos, há muito poucas pessoas a partilhar. Estamos quase no Natal, época de partilha por excelência, por isso vamos a isso! Deixem os vossos comentários nos diferentes posts e, para uma opinião geral, na box lateral.

What's the best job in the world? (Portfolio assignment)

Have you ever thought of the best job in the world?
Well, I will give an example so that you can reflect on it.

Australia offers 'best job in world' on paradise island


Would that be a perfect job for you? Yes? No?
State your main reasons. (If you need help with useful expressions used to express and justify opinion, click here.)

Personal Marketing Tips

Have a look at the following blogs on personal marketing. I am sure they will help you to write a brief and impressive text to your video CV.

Video CV tips

Personal Marketing

How to write a personal biography

Personal Branding examples

Personal Marketing Plan

The Well (Chapter 4)

Order the following pictures according to what you've listened and subtitle them.

Learn English on your own!

It's easy to improve your English. Here you will find a range of useful sites where you can learn and practise your English. Let's get started!!!

Improve your Grammar

Learning English for the workplace

Evaluate yourself: test your English language level

Learn English with Second Life

Games to help you practise your English and others just for fun!

Best ways to learn English (Portfolio Assignement)

As you have already notice, you realy must to improve you proficciency in English. But, how can you do that? Are lessons enough? Of course not! Click the link below and you will find interesting tips for learning English on your own.Read it carefully and decide on the best way, according to your learning style, to improve:

1. Speaking
2. Reading
3. Listening
4. Writing

How to learn English

Did you find this information helpful?
Please don't forget to leave a comment in this post, stating your opinion.

The Well (Chapter 3) Portfolio Assignment

1. Put the sentences in the correct order.

Lia puts some bread and a sausage in her bag.
He talks to them.
The volcano isn’t dangerous today.
The next morning, Lia and Jay get up early.
The air is hot.
She puts a bottle of water in the bag too.
The air is full of dust.
At the checkpoint, Lia and Jay meet a soldier.
Jay and Lia are on the highway.


2. Who says what?

a) We’re going to our grandmother’s farm.
b) She’s sick. She wants water from the well. It will cure her sickness.
c) You’re going to get some magic water? Bring me some too.

Sayng Please and Thank You!

Please and Thank You are a kind of magical words in the English speaking world. You must learn to use them correctely. Mr. Duncan will surely help you!

The Well (Chapter 2) Portfolio Assignment

1. Draw Lia's family tree.

2. Choose the correct option:

a) Lia’s mother gives / is giving the old woman
some water.
b) The volcano is / was dangerous.
c) Soldiers guard / are guarding the road.
d) Grandmother does / doesn’t hear her.
e) I’ll / I walk to the farm.
f) Lia, you must / mustn’t visit the farm.

Dictation: Mr. Bean's working day! (Portfolio Assignment)

Please, don't panic! This is just a small dictation that will give you the chance of remembering the sounds in English. Below you have two files containing the same text. In the first one just listen. The text is delivered, quite quickly, in a natural voice.Then listen tothe second file which is delivered more slowly (and includes punctuation) and write the text.Then listen to the first file again - Check and make any corrections you think necessary.





Just listen - Natural speed text.



Now it's time to write the text - don't forget to include punctuation.

Video CV (portfolio assgnment)

Here you will find some interesting ideas to help you with your Video CV. The limit is your imagination.
Duration of your Video CV - 1 minute (approximately)

That's not right! Small talk activity (portfolio assignment)

(this activity wa downloaded from In Company Pre-intermediate Resource materials)

Look at the things you might say during a business lunch. In each pair of sentences, only one is correct. Score out the incorrect sentence each time. Then roleplay the three stages of the conversation using audio / video format. Make sure the sequence makes sense. You can add extra sentences to the dialogue.

Stage 1

1A So, shall we take a drink at the bar while we wait for our table?
2A OK. Do you mind if I just have a mineral water?
3A Mineral water, sure. Gassy or flat?
4A On second thought, I’ll have a martini.
5A Good idea. I think I’ll join you.
6A Great place, by the way. Do you go here often?
7A Quite often. Ah, looks like our table’s ready. After you.

1B So, shall we have a drink at the bar while we wait for our table?
2B OK. Do you care if I just have a mineral water?
3B Mineral water, sure. Still or sparkling?
4B On second thoughts, I’ll have a martini.
5B Good idea. I think I’ll copy you.
6B Great place, by the way. Do you come here often?
7B Quite often. Ah, looks like our table’s ready. Behind you.


Stage 2


8A Wow! What a fantastic view of the city!
9A Isn’t it? Now, this is the main menu and those are the particulars.
10A OK. So, what do you recommend?
11A Well, you could attempt the rabbit. That’s very good here.
12A Actually, I’m not that keen for rabbit.
13A Well, the veal is also a speciality.
14A Mmm, that sounds good.


8B Wow! What a fantastic sight of the city!
9B Isn’t it? Now, this is the main menu and those are the specials.
10B OK. So, what do you guarantee?
11B Well, you could try the rabbit. That’s very good here.
12B Actually, I’m not that keen on rabbit.
13B Well, the veal is also a specialism.
14B Mmm, that sounds well.

Stage 3

15A So, are you ready to order?
16A Yeah, I’m going to have the fillet – I like a good bloody steak.
17A OK. And shall we have a bottle of red of the house?
18A A whole bottle? What about this afternoon’s meeting?
19A Good point. Let’s just have a pair of glasses, then.
20A Fine. Well, I think this morning’s presentation went very well.
21A Mmm, let’s hope this afternoon is just as successful.


15B So, are you ready to command?
16B Yeah, I’m going to have the fillet – I like a good rare steak.
17B OK. And shall we have a bottle of the house red?
18B A whole bottle? How about this afternoon’s meeting?
19B Good point. Let’s just have a couple of glasses, then.
20B Fine. Well, I think this morning’s presentation came very well.
21B Mmm, let’s hope this afternoon is just so successful

Sayoin Hello and Goodbye!

This amusing video is meant to help you practising different ways of greeting someone.

The Well (Chapter 1) (Portfolio assignment)

Listen to the first chapter of The Well and answer the following questions.

1. The action takes place during:
a) Spring
b) Summer
c) Autumn
d) Winter

2. Who lives in Lia’s house?

3. Lia’s grandmother is:
a) Single
b) Married
c) Divorced
d) A widow

4. Complete the sentence according to the sript: “Oh, it’s in the well…… Thank you.’


5. What does Lia’s grandmother do during the day?

Mind your pronounciation! It's fun time!

Here is an hilarious video on pronounciation in English. If your pronounciation is similar (which I absolutely doubt), follow his advise and keep on practicing. If you don't like hamburgers, try other sort of things, like "I would like to buy an icecream"

Desafio 8 - Thinking journey: what do want from your future?

This video presents two different paths towards the future. Which one do you want to take? How lost do you think your generation will be?

Happy Easter!

Your teacher wishes you a Happy Easter with plenty of time to work on the presentation assignment :) and of course some chocolate, but with the sole purpose of keeping you awake while working on the project!!!!!

Desafio 7 - To overcome the fear of public speaking

This audio clip by bbclearningenglish will help you to get ready to your oral presentation.
Listen to it and then complete the excerpts from two different presentations with the missing signpost expressions.



INTRODUCTION

Clip 1

“______1_______. I hope my presentation isn’t going to take too long and that you will find it interesting.____2______ how we can improve internal communications within our company. _______3_______ by explaining that I’d like to talk about the business case for better communication, _____4_____I want to cover different styles and methods _____5____I would like to finish off by talking about some of the basics we need to have in place to deliver good quality, consistent communications across the company. ____6_____ and I’m sure there’ll be plenty of time for us to discuss some of the points that have been raised."

Clip 2

“Good afternoon _____7______ to come and join me for this presentation this afternoon. My name is Tim Mason, I‘m a retail consultant and many of you will have seen me shadowing you in your jobs and looking through the accounts and so on in the company over the last week.____8___. First, I’d like to have a look at the performance of the company, the sales of the company over the last three years. ____9__ I’d like to have a look at our market share in the women’s wear market and look at our competitors and, ____10____ I’d like to suggest some improvements in our range of women’s wear. ____11___"

BODY

Clip 1

“____12___ you can see that our sales topped 50 million the year before last. Then last year sales dropped to 40 million with a slight recovery at the end of the financial year. However this year sales have continued to drop to an all time low of 30 million. ___13__ we have 25% of the market share, 10% down on last year.”

Clip 2

“ ___14___ how important internal communications are, is shown by some findings from research that we have recently undertaken. Good communications is a very key factor in staff motivation. ____15__, you will see how important it is to get the basics in place. You need to identify your communication requirement, agree your objectives and success criteria, identify your target audiences, define the content of your message. And determine the style of delivery. _____16___ communication process is when allthose basics fall into place naturally.”

CONCLUSION


Clip 1

“Tim: ___17___
Carrie: yeah, can I just ask .um . graph number 3 that last one you showed us can you explain to me where you’re intending to find the extra income to increase the design arrangement in the maternity ware?
Tim: ___18__I’ve looked at the office ware range and it is quite heavy on material, holiday ware tends to be much lighter much smaller amounts of material involved and I think that s an area… FADE OUT ……where will certainly find a large saving.”

Desafio 6 - How to overcome the fear of Public Speaking

Watch the video and then think of what piece of advice would you give them to overcome the fear of Public Speaking! Try to be as imaginative as you can! (you may also record a song - which can be a national overwhelming success!!!)

Desafio 5 - Does everybody need a mobile phone?

I’m in a bank and I’m opening a new bank account. The bank manager is asking me questions. She asks me my name, my age, my address, what I do, where I work, my phone number and then my mobile phone number.
‘I don’t have a mobile phone,’ I reply.
‘I’m sorry?’ asks the manager, shocked.
‘I don’t have a mobile phone.’
‘But everybody has a mobile!’
‘No, they don’t. I don’t.’
‘Are you serious?’
‘Of course I am!’
‘But how can you not have one? Everybody needs a mobile!’
‘No, they don’t. I don’t.’

‘Listen,’ I say to the bank manager, ‘this is a true story: A man is going parachuting – he has with him his parachute, his helmet and his mobile phone. The plane takes him higher and higher and further and further away from the town. But there is a very strong wind today and he lands on top of a hill very badly – he has two broken legs. He takes his mobile phone and calls his friend to come and rescue him. That’s strange – the phone is not working. He tries again. Nothing. Then he realizes that there is no mobile phone network on the hill. In great pain he pulls himself down the hill to the road and stops a car. The driver takes him to the hospital.

‘This is another true story: I am waiting for my friend Syrine at a railway station. Her train arrives but she’s not on it. I wait for the next train. No Syrine. I wait for an hour and begin to worry. Then I remember that she has a mobile phone. I go to a public telephone box and call her. Nothing. I try again – no answer. Another half an hour later Syrine arrives. I tell her about the phone call – she looks at her phone: the battery is flat.’

The bank manager tries to speak.
‘No, listen’ I say. ‘When I go to a restaurant, my friends put their mobile phones on the table. When the phones ring, they answer them and chat for ages. This is a true story: I am in a café with Syrine. Her mobile rings and she starts chatting to her friend, her friend is telling her a long, funny story about something. Syrine is laughing and listening. I eat my cake and drink my coffee. Syrine is still talking on her phone. I finish the cake and the coffee. Ha, ha, ha says Syrine. I pay for my cake and coffee and leave the café.

‘Now I’m in the cinema. I’m watching a film and it’s great. The hero of the story realizes he is in love with the girl, he’s walking towards her and talking softly. Then, and this is a true story, the person next to me has a phone call. She’s talking to her friend about what time the film ends and where they can meet. I can’t hear the film, I can only hear the person next to me.’

‘So,’ I say to the bank manager, ‘I don’t have a mobile phone, I don’t need a mobile phone and I don’t like mobile phones.’
The bank manager looks at me very strangely and opens the bank account.


A. The writer is opening a bank account but does not have a mobile phone. Read the text and decide:

1. what the bank manager thinks of the writer.
2. if you agree with the writer’s opinion.

B. There are 4 ‘true stories’.Read them again and to notice the
connection between them:

1. what do stories 1 and 2 have in common?
2. what do stories 3 and 4 have in common?

C. Everybody needs a mobile phone. Do You agree?

Desafio 4 - Laugh and Learn!

Have a look at the cartoon and comment on it, explaining what's funny about it!

Desafio 3 - Making a Hotel Booking

Listen to the telephone conversation between a hotel receptionist and a person trying to make a booking. The line is bad, but the receptionist has the telephone skills to deal with this problem. Decide whether the following sentences are TRUE or FALSE. Correct the false ones.

1 - The customer had not tried to contact the hotel before.
2 - The customer wants to stay for less than a week.
3 - The customer will arrive on the 21st July.
4 - The customer manages to change the accommodation arrangements.
5 - The hotel does not serve vegetarian food.
6 - The customer has only 2 requests.
7 - The hotel name is Horizon.
8 - The customer's surname is Coutts.
9 - The customer's return flight will be very late in the afternoon.
10 - The receptionist remains polite during the conversation.

Desafio 2 - Office Phone: how good listener are you?

Watch the following video and pay attention to the expressions used on the phone. Then write down the whole conversation between Carl and Marty's secretary.

The first sentence has been done for you:
"Good morning, Bolster Motors, how can I help you?..."

Desafio 1 - Buying a ticket

Listen to the telephone conversation and then do the interactive exercises that will appear at the end. I would also like you to answer the following questions:

What does the railway operator say when he answers the phone?

What time does the caller want to return?

How much would the ticket cost?

What is the caller credit card number?

When is the callers's birthday?

http://www.englishmedialab.com/survival%20English/listening/ticket%20to%20Glasgow%20.htm

I Speak English, I learn it from a book

This funny episode from Fawlty Towers, a British sitcom made by the BBC and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975, made forever popular the expression "I Speak English, I learn it from a book". Nowadays we have at our disposal an immense variety of ways to learn and improve our proficiency in English. To make our lessons more appealing, I decided to create a blog where you can (I dare say should... or even must) leave your comments, make suggestions and, of course raise your questions.

So, Welcome Aboard on an unforgettable virtual journey!