Month: May 2013

Posted in Exam Preparation Class, Grammar Classes

CAE / CPE Expressions for Key Word Transformations

Posted on by Tim Warre

Just a quick note…

Before you use these materials… We’ve created a new podcast aimed at B2+ level English students and teachers alike. You can listen for free at our SoundCloud page below. You can download teacher’s notes to accompany them from our Facebook page or from this blog. All comments and feedback welcome! Give us a like and a share 😉

https://soundcloud.com/2tspod


https://www.facebook.com/2tspodcast/

This is a worksheet to practice typical phrases and expressions that come up in key word transformations in both CAE and CPE. They are also very useful for writings.

Students rewrite the sentences using the word given in capitals.

Download the worksheet from here:

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=79CFF252BEEA0A7D!388&authkey=!AAlKmGNu1itRsP0

Here’s a link to a quizlet flashcard set that can be used for preteaching or revision:

http://quizlet.com/16987300/cae-use-of-english-practice-part-5-flash-cards/

  1.  “Do you want to go and see the new play?” Petra asked her friend
    (INTERESTED)
    Petra asked her friend whether……………………………………..to see the new play.
  2.  Pat does not intend to have a holiday this year
    (INTENTION)
    Pat has …………………………………………………….. on holiday this year.
  3. Lisa was about to leave the house when.. (POINT)
  4. I think learning to use a typewriter is a waste of time (POINT)
  5. A number of sporting events had to be cancelled owing to bad weather. (LED)
  6. When it comes to computer games, Gareth is a real expert. (CONCERNED)
  7. Carlos really should get someone to mend his bike. (HIGH)
  8. The company has a good reputation in the local area (HIGHLY)
  9. Do you think Pablo is likely to win the competition? (CHANCE)
  10. I’ve been greatly impressed by the way Jasper deals with problems (MADE)
  11. Darius soon recovered after the operation (MADE)
  12. I think the weather will improve next week. (CHANGE)
  13. Pheobe was surprised to be offered a place on the course (CAME)
  14. It’s so difficult to create new ideas for the festival every year (COME)
  15. The company is almost certain to get the contract (EVERY)
  16. Sven would have called yesterday if he had had more time (SHORT)
  17. Many people believe that Garcia has the ability to become world champion (CAPABLE)
  18. In his speech, the Principal did not mention the new language courses. (REFERENCE)
  19. Sam never thought of asking me for my advice (OCCURRED)
  20. Despite all their efforts, they could not get the old car to start (HARD)
  21. “I’m sorry, but there’s no way I’m going to sleep on the floor” said Maria. (CLEAR)
  22. “Remember to write or phone,” Marta said as she waved goodbye (TOUCH)
  23. Simon really ought to make a decision about his future (MIND)
  24. If you don’t pay on time, your booking will be cancelled (RESULT)
  25. I’m sure Gemma is going to become a famous model one day (MATTER)
  26. Barbara’s parents were certain that she would be a great tennis player (DOUBT)
  27. The company isn’t able to guarantee an allocated car parking space to all employees (COUNT)
  28. Daisy said that she would no longer tolerate her colleagues being rude (PUT)

Key:

she was interested in going “Do you want to go and see the new play?” Petra asked her friend
(INTERESTED)
Petra asked her friend whether……………………………………..to see the new play.
no intention of going Pat does not intend to have a holiday this year
(INTENTION)
Pat has …………………………………………………….. on holiday this year.
Lisa was ON THE POINT OF LEAVING the house when. Lisa was about to leave the house when.. (POINT)
I think THERE’S NO POINT learning to use a typewriter. I think learning to use a typewriter is a waste of time (POINT)
The bad weather LED TO THE CANCELLATION OF a number of sporting events. A number of sporting events had to be cancelled owing to bad weather. (LED)
AS FAR AS COMPUTER GAMES ARE CONCERNED, Gareth is a real expert. When it comes to computer games, Gareth is a real expert. (CONCERNED)
IT’S HIGH TIME CARLOS GOT someone to mend his bike. Carlos really should get someone to mend his bike. (HIGH)
The company is HIGHLY REGARDED in the local area. The company has a good reputation in the local area (HIGHLY)
Do you think Pablo STANDS A CHANCE OF WINNING the competition? Do you think Pablo is likely to win the competition? (CHANCE)
The way Jasper deals with problems has MADE A GREAT IMPRESSION ON ME. I’ve been greatly impressed by the way Jasper deals with problems (MADE)
Darius soon MADE A (FULL) RECOVERY after the operation. Darius soon recovered after the operation (MADE)
I think the weather will CHANGE FOR THE BETTER next week. I think the weather will improve next week. (CHANGE)
The offer of a place on the course CAME AS A SURPRISE TO Phoebe. Pheobe was surprised to be offered a place on the course (CAME)
It’s so difficult to COME UP WITH new ideas for the festival every year. It’s so difficult to create new ideas for the festival every year (COME)
The company HAS EVERY CHANCE OF GETTING the contract. The company is almost certain to get the contract (EVERY)
Sven would have called yesterday if he hadn’t been SHORT ON / OF TIME. Sven would have called yesterday if he had had more time (SHORT)
Many people believe that Garcia IS CAPABLE OF BECOMING world champion. Many people believe that Garcia has the ability to become world champion (CAPABLE)
In his speech, the Principal MADE NO REFERENCE TO the new language courses. In his speech, the Principal did not mention the new language courses. (REFERENCE)
IT NEVER OCCURRED TO SAM TO ASK me for advice. Sam never thought of asking me for my advice (OCCURRED)
NO MATTER HOW HARD THEY TRIED, they could not get the old car to start. Despite all their efforts, they could not get the old car to start (HARD)
Maria MADE IT CLEAR THAT she wasn’t going to sleep on the floor. “I’m sorry, but there’s no way I’m going to sleep on the floor” said Maria. (CLEAR)
“Remember KEEP IN TOUCH,” Marta said as she waved goodbye. “Remember to write or phone,” Marta said as she waved goodbye (TOUCH)
Simon really ought to MAKE UP HIS MIND about his future. Simon really ought to make a decision about his future (MIND)
Not paying in time WILL RESULT IN YOUR BOOKING BEING CANCELLED. If you don’t pay on time, your booking will be cancelled (RESULT)
I´m sure IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE Gemma becomes a famous model. I’m sure Gemma is going to become a famous model one day (MATTER)
Barbara’s parents HAD NO DOUBT that she would be a great tennis player. Barbara’s parents were certain that she would be a great tennis player (DOUBT)
Employees CANNOT COUNT ON HAVING an allocated car parking space. The company isn’t able to guarantee an allocated car parking space to all employees (COUNT)
Daisy said that she would no longer PUT UP WITH her colleagues being rude. Daisy said that she would no longer tolerate her colleagues being rude (PUT)
was on the point of calling Sven was about to call the police when the burglar stopped trying to open the window and ran away.
POINT
Sven ……………………………………………… the police when the burglar stopped trying to open the window and ran away.
Posted in Conversation Classes, Reading Classes, Vocabulary Classes

Proficiency Book Club: The Waterfall by H E Bates

Posted on by Tim Warre

short stories

This is a series of lesson plans for proficiency level students based around stories from “The Oxford Book of English Short Stories” edited by A. S. Byatt. Set the story as homework the week before, encourage students to bring any vocabulary questions to class.

The Waterfall tells the story of a repressed reverend’s daughter trying to cope with the emotions and sentiments of life and love. These feelings are symbolised by the waterfall in her garden which is being renovated. The breaking of the damn and the water surging down the waterfall could symbolise the release of all her bottled up affections and feelings towards her husband and the jovial Mr. Phillips who has been staying with the family.

Download this lesson plan here:

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=79CFF252BEEA0A7D!383&authkey=!AJRdYjvoRf1OhyM

Vocabulary

First copy to the board or project the vocabulary table in the attachment above, students must try to match the new vocab to the definition.

Key: 1 – g, 2 – d, 3 – a, 4 – b, 5 – j, 6 – e, 7 – f, 8 – I, 9 – h, 10 – c.

Once they have matched the vocab give them 5 minutes to find the vocabulary in the text, make it a race, the first team to find all 10 wins.

Then discuss the following discussion questions:

Discussion Questions:

  • What happens in the story?
  • How would you describe the characters? Straight-laced. Prim and proper, repressed, damaged,
  • What does the waterfall represent?
  • How do you feel about Rose? Do you sympathise with her?
  • How do you think she feels about her new husband?
  • How do you think she feels about Phillips?
  • Do you think people are more or less emotionally repressed these days?
  • Do you think this is a good or bad thing?
Posted in Conversation Classes, Vocabulary Classes

Family Expressions Conversation Class

Posted on by Tim Warre

Family clip art

This is a short activity in which students learn some expressions about family and use them in a short discussion.

Have students try to complete the expresions below in pairs.

Complete the expressions:

  1. A family t_______
  2. B______ is thicker than w________
  3. L______ father l_______ son
  4. To take a_______ somebody (to inherit characteristics from a parent)
  5. Like two p_____ in a p______ (very similar)
  6. Like c_______ and c_______ (very different)
  7. Go to a family g_____ – t________ / g_________
  8. A father f__________

Key:

  1. tree
  2. blood, water
  3. like, like
  4. after
  5. peas, pod
  6. chalk, cheese
  7. get-together / gathering
  8. figure

Go through the expressions as a class, then but students in small groups to discuss the following discussion questions:

Discussion questions:

  1. Does your family have a family tree? Have you ever looked at it? Do you know your family’s origins? Do you have any famous ancestors?
  2. Do you agree that blood is thicker than water? How important is family to you? How important is family in your country? Do you think it’s more important than in other countries?
  3. Who do you take after? Your mother or father? In appearance? Personality? Are there any specific hereditary characteristics in your family?
  4. Do you have any family members or friends who are like two peas in a pod? Or any who are like chalk and cheese?
  5. How often do you go to family get-togethers / gatherings? When was the last time? Do you enjoy them? Do you have any annoying relatives?
  6. How important is it for a child to have a father figure? Or a mother figure? How do you think a lack of either can affect children?