Friday 23 November 2012

HOW TO E-MAIL YOUR TEACHER

Teachers may or may not be adept at using email, in terms of technological savvy. However, teachers that are email savvy have certain expectations for the messages they receive from students. We'll help you understand those expectations.

1. Use an account with a formal name. People are deluged with emails every day, and by using an account that looks formal, you'll have a better chance of avoiding your professor skipping right over your email because it's an unknown address or because it looks too informal.

2. Include a meaningful subject line. While this is true of every email you send (that you wish to be read), it's especially important when you're attempting to communicate with somebody whose day is busy enough as it is.
  • If your teacher does not already have a preferred convention then a good default is to start with the class you are in and then the topic of your email. For example, "ENGLISH C2-C: Question about essay" would be an excellent way to fill in the subject line. With the name on your account and your well-titled subject, the teacher knows who you are and exactly what you want, even before they click "Open." This helps the teacher organize and prioritize student emails.
  • Never send a message with no subject line.
3. Always use a greeting. Do not begin with "Hey" or similar colloquialism. Generally speaking you should use "Mr. Last-name", for regular teachers, or "Dear Professor Last-name" if he is a University teacher. When the professor has a PhD, the  honorific is "Dear Dr. Last-name".

Do not use the teacher's first name unless you have been explicitly invited to do so. And please, spell your teacher's name correctly.

4. Briefly and politely state the reason why you are emailing. Offer only relevant information. Be sure to include the name or number of the course you are writing about in the body of the email as well as in the subject line.

5. If you are emailing with a problem, suggest a solution. Be considerate of how your solution might create additional work for the teacher.

6. Sign it with your name. Use first and last name, and if you think there is any chance that your teacher may not be able to place you, include your course information below your name.

7. Read it over. If you do not have spell-check on your email, you might copy the message and paste it into a word processing program and run spell-check there. Consider not only the mechanics, but what you have said. Strive for a polite tone, concise language, and clear purpose.

8. If the issue is touchy, or the email long, ask someone else to read it too. Ask if your reader would be offended by such an email if it were directed at him or her. If you have a complaint or have strong negative feelings that you are trying to resolve, email is probably not your best avenue. You need to have a conversation with the teacher, and email is only one-way (at a time). You may email to tell your teacher that you feel a need to talk about the issue, and ask to set up an office visit or phone conversation, but it is best not to write anything that you might regret later.

9. Allow adequate time for a reply.  Leave enough time for a response. Some teachers may not have Internet access at home, so you may need to wait a few days. If more than a few days have passed and you have not got a response, it is appropriate to ask him about it. It may be more effective to follow up by phone or by office visit. Don't be afraid to speak up or send a reminder. If you are only sending a piece of information ("I have the flu and will not be in class on Tuesday, but Sue will turn in my paper for me.") the professor may not consider a reply necessary. In this case, you are done.

10. Once a reply has been received, acknowledge it. A simple, "Thank you" may be enough. If necessary, write a more extensive email using these same guidelines to achieve a professional effect. If the case is not being adequately resolved by email, ask for an appointment to meet in person. 
Samples:
http://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Email-Professor-Asking-for-Notes
http://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Email-Professor-Asking-for-a-Favor
http://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Email-Professor-About-a-Question


Sunday 11 November 2012

REVISION TESTS FOR CPE (C2)





REVISION TESTS FOR CAE (C1)








REVISION TESTS FOR FCE (B2)







CURS D'ANGLÈS BÀSIC



APRENDRE ANGLÈS DES DE ZERO
lliçó 1. Inici: Hola
lliçó 2. Inici: Parlo una mica ....
lliçó 3. Començar: Parli més lent
lliçó 4. Inici: Per favor i gràcies
lliçó 5. Inici: Pronoms
lliçó 6. Inici: preguntes curtes
lliçó 7. Inici: Jo sóc
lliçó 8. Inici: Per exemple
lliçó 9. Inici: Expressions
lliçó 10. Números: del 0 al 10
lliçó 11. Números: 11 al 20 de
lliçó 12. Números: 21 al 30 de
lliçó 13. Nombres: 10 al 100
lliçó 14. Números: 100 i 1000
lliçó 15. Nombres: 1.000 i 10.000
lliçó 16. Instruccions: Vine aquí
lliçó 17. Instruccions: Al final del passadís
lliçó 18. Instruccions: On?
lliçó 19. Colors
lliçó 20. Gent: Membres de la família
lliçó 21. Persones: relacions familiars
lliçó 22. Gent: Nenes i nens
lliçó 23. Gent: Amics
lliçó 24. Temps: Dies de la setmana
lliçó 25. Temps: Mesos de l'any
lliçó 26. Temps: Quin dia és avui?
lliçó 27. Temps: Quina hora és?
lliçó 28. Hora: Nomenaments
lliçó 29. El temps i les estacions
lliçó 30. Oposats: gran / petit
lliçó 31. Oposats: fàcil / difícil
lliçó 32. Oposats: Fred / calor
lliçó 33. Oposats: Lent / ràpid
lliçó 34. Oposats: Més / menys
lliçó 35. Oposats: Vell / nou
lliçó 36. Cos: Head
lliçó 37. Cos: Cara
lliçó 38. Cos: Cos superior
lliçó 39. Cos: Part inferior del cos
lliçó 40. Viatge: Aeroport
lliçó 41. Turisme: A l'avió
lliçó 42. Viatge: Sortida i arribada
lliçó 43. Viatges: On és el meu equipatge?
lliçó 44. Viatge: On vas?
lliçó 45. Viatges: En arribar al seu destí
lliçó 46. Hotel: El check in
lliçó 47. Hotel: Necessitats
lliçó 48. Hotel: reserves d'hotel
lliçó 49. Hotel: És hora d'anar
lliçó 50. Hotel: expressions d'Emergència
lliçó 51. Al voltant de la ciutat: Llocs
lliçó 52. Al voltant de la ciutat: On és?
lliçó 53. A la ciutat: Al carrer
lliçó 54. A la ciutat: Al bar
lliçó 55. Al voltant de la ciutat: Transport
lliçó 56. Visites turístiques: Llocs
lliçó 57. Compres: Muéstrame
lliçó 58. Compres: Roba
lliçó 59. Compres: Més roba
lliçó 60. Compres: Joies
lliçó 61. Compres: Una venda
lliçó 62. Restaurant: Trobar un restaurant
lliçó 63. Restaurant: A la taula
lliçó 64. Restaurant: per comandes d'aliments
lliçó 65. Restaurant: Com és el menjar?
lliçó 66. Restaurant: Preparacions alimentàries
lliçó 68. Restaurant: El pagament
lliçó 69. Dinar: Botiga de queviures
lliçó 70. Aliments: Fruites
lliçó 71. Dinar: Verdures
lliçó 72. Dinar: Més verdures
lliçó 73. Aliments: Productes lactis
lliçó 74. Dinar: Carns
lliçó 75. Dinar: Al forn
lliçó 76. Dinar: Begudes i aliments
lliçó 77. Dinar: Marisc
lliçó 78. Dinar: Condiments
lliçó 79. Dinar: Quantitats i contenidors
lliçó 80. Platja: Prendre el sol
lliçó 81. Platja: Coses per portar a la platja
lliçó 82. Platja: Animals de mar
lliçó 83. Platja: Anirem a nedar
lliçó 84. Platja: Compte amb la ressaca
lliçó 85. Platja: Vull prendre el sol
lliçó 86. Vacances: Coses que m'agrada fer
lliçó 87. Vacances: Necessito
lliçó 88. Vacances: Les activitats bàsiques
lliçó 89. Vacances: Els animals domèstics
lliçó 90. Vacances: Els animals salvatges
lliçó 91. Vacances: Insectes
lliçó 92. Vacances: Al país
lliçó 93. Doctor: Sick
lliçó 94. Metge: Lesió
lliçó 95. Doctor: Parlar amb el metge
lliçó 96. Doctor: Com obtenir ajuda
lliçó 97. Oficina: Equip
lliçó 98. Oficina: Subministraments
lliçó 99. De oficina: escriptori
lliçó 100. Oficina: Mobles
lliçó 101. Ocupació: Sol·licitud de treball
lliçó 102. Ocupació: A la recerca de treball
lliçó 103. Ocupació: Utilització d'Internet
lliçó 104. Ocupació: Navegar per la Internet
lliçó 105. Ocupació: Condicions de Navegació
lliçó 106. Ocupació: L'entrada de dades
lliçó 107. Equip: Parts
lliçó 108. Equip: Email termes
lliçó 109. Equip: Argot 



                                    Aprendre anglès des de zero així és fàcil!  <–Tuiteja aquesta frase

ENGLISH FOR THE MATHS CLASS

Here is a list of all of the skills students learn in every grade, and therefore, all of the mathematical terms we need to know for our class!


http://www.ixl.com/math/

As you will see, the skills are organized into categories, and you can move your mouse over any skill name to see a sample question.

To start practicing with your students, just click on any link. IXL will track your score, and the questions will even increase in difficulty as you improve!






WHAT TIME IS IT?

A simple video showing how to tell time in English:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3icBxO6Wjz0



Computer activities to teach and revise time in English:

http://www.teachingtime.co.uk/

http://www.languageguide.org/english/telling-time/



A resource for teachers and students to learn everything  about the concept of time.

http://www.time-for-time.com/


Games for our Primary students:  http://www.primarygames.com/time/start.htm
                                                  http://www.timemonsters.com/




Sunday 4 November 2012

WRITING: A REPORT

Structure of a report:                                        

Title of the report:

To:
From:
Subject:
Date:

Reason of writing (Introduction)

  • The aim/objective/purpose of this report is to compare/examine/evaluate/describe/outline (some suggestions)/analyse (some suggestions)/expose/present/give information on/regarding the/recommend/consider/suggest
  • This report aims to... etc.
  • Nouns: information (remember: not informations), ideas, suggestions, situations, conditions, comments
  • in order to improve/decide
  • In case of survey/discussion: It is based on a survey conducted among/It is the result of a discussion which took place among

Body (2 paragraphs maximum)
  • Headings from the task
  • It should be considered, it is worth considering
  • The first observation to make is (concerns)
  • First of all/Firstly
  • Secondly/ Furthermore/Moreover
  • Lastly/Finally
  • In fact
  • According to (the majority of respondents)
  • However, although, alternatively
  • In spite of (the fact [that])/Despite (the fact [that]) + Noun, Pronoun or ...ing
  • Predicting the future: The outlook for ... is (far from [+ing]) bright/optimistic/depressing/daunting
  • The future looks bleak/remains uncertain/is promising
  • This seems unlikely in the near/foreseable future
  • It has been stressed that

Making/giving recommendations
  • I would strongly recommend that ... should + bare infinitive
  • In the light of the results of the survey I would advise against...
  • I feel it would be to our advantage if...
  • The best solution is/would be to...
  • This will have an impact on + noun

Conclusion(s)
  • As long as/provided that these recommendations are taken into consideration
  • In conclusion...
  • The reseach shows/demonstrates
  • From the research/the evidence we conclude that    

PROTOCOL: THE ORDER OF PRECEDENCE IN THE UK

The British peerage system is divided into five main ranks:  

Duke
Marquess (sometimes spelled “Marquis”)
Earl
Viscount
Baron

Above dukes are the members of the royal family, with the sovereign at the top.  
Below barons are two ranks of non-peers:  Baronets and Knights.  Not being peers,  they do not hold a seat in the House of Lords (a privilege which ended with the twentieth century).  These two ranks both use the title “Sir” with the given name (never with only the surname), and a baronetcy is passed down through the family like a hereditary peerage.  A knighthood, on the other hand, is for life only.


The order of precedence in England and Wales is as follows:
 

The Sovereign; The Duke of Edinburgh; The Prince of Wales; The Sovereign’s younger sons; The Sovereign’s grandsons; The Sovereign’s cousins; The Archbishop of Canterbury; Lord High Chancellor; Archbishop of York; The Prime Minister; Lord High Treasurer; Lord President of the Council; Speaker of the House of Commons; Lord Privy Seal; Ambassadors and High Commissioners.
 

Peers rank among themselves as follows:
 

1. of England, 2. of Scotland, 3. of Great Britain, 4. of Ireland, 5. of UK and Ireland.
 

Precedence among those with honours and titles:
 

Dukes; Marquesses; Earls; Viscounts; Barons; Knights of the Garter; Baronets;
Knights of the Thistle and other orders; Knights Bachelor; Companions.
The Archbishop of Canterbury takes precedence in England and Wales after Royal Princes, while Bishops rank above barons but below viscounts.
 

In Scotland precedence alters as follows: The Sovereign; The Duke of Edinburgh; The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly (while that Assembly is sitting); The Duke of Rothesay (eldest son of the Sovereign); The Sovereign’s younger sons;  The Sovereign’s cousins; Lord Lieutenant of Counties; Lords Provost of Counties of Cities; Sheriffs Principal; Lord Chancellor of Great Britain; Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; The Prime Minister.
 

Full details can be found in ‘Whitaker’s Almanac’ or ‘Debrett’s Peerage
and Baronetage’.
                                             



PROTOCOL: ADDRESSING PEOPLE USING TITLES

Much has changed since Emily Post published her first collection of rules of etiquette in 1922, but the concept of etiquette as a common language of social behavior has persisted. We address our elected and appointed government officials in specific ways, not so much as an expression of respect for them (although many deserve such respect) as for the office that they occupy. The titles and salutations that we use are based mostly on custom. Some, like the Massachusetts governor's salutation of "Your Excellency" are dictated by state law and date back centuries. Some, like "Mr. President," are based on an official's (in this case, George Washington himself) insistence on breaking with a tradition. Each office carries with it a set of responsibilities and privileges but, at least in democratic nations, the office represents the people who fill it and salutations are designed to reflect that concept, not to convey an image of personal power.


Once upon a time, rulers were addressed with superlatives like Your Highness or Your Excellency. Over time, though, manners change. Most etiquette guides and many government departments publish proper forms of address, salutation and closing for many government officials, and some variations are inevitable due to internal protocols and the date of the guide's most recent revision. The U.S. Department of State's rules of protocol are usually the most reliably current; diplomats are in a critical position and can't afford to offend anyone. For most of us, though, if we remember the idea that we're addressing an office and that we should use the correct title in its briefest form, our salutation will be proper whether used in a business letter or reception line.

 
General Instructions: 

    •  United States of America
    • 1
      Address people formally unless you have been introduced to them on a first name basis or they have asked you to call them by their first name. Use "Hello Mr., Mrs. or Miss (last name)" when speaking and "Dear Mr., Mrs. or Miss (last name)" when writing a letter. If you do not know a person's last name, greet them with "Hello, Sir or Ma'am," which is the common abbreviated form of madam.
    • 2
      Recognize people who hold a doctorate degree by their title. "Hello, Dr. (last name)." Some physicians prefer to be addressed by their title followed by their first name, such as "Dr. Bob." Include a title for college professors prior to their last name, too. "Good evening, Professor Smith," for example.
    • 3
      Greet judges with their title followed by the last name. Male judges should be addressed as "Justice (last name)" or "Judge (last name)." Female judges should be addressed as "Madam Justice (last name)" or "Judge (last name)." When writing to judges, the envelope and inside address should read, "The Honourable (first and last name)," followed by their position such as, "Chief Judge," "Associate Judge," or "Bankruptcy Judge."
    • 4
      Address the President of the United States as "Mr. President" or "Madam President" when speaking or writing a letter. Close the letter with "Respectfully," sign your first and last name, and address the envelope, "The President, The White House, Washington, DC 20500." Former presidents of the country are simply addressed as "Mr. (last name)," but the envelope of a letter to them should read "The Honourable (first and last name)."
    • 5
      Greet a United States Senator as "Senator (last name)," and a United States Representative as "Mr., Mrs. or Miss (last name)" when speaking or writing a letter. When addressing an envelope, however, refer to either position as "The Honourable (first and last name)." Letters to senators are addressed to United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510. Letters to representatives are addressed to United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515
    • 6
      Address state governors as "Governor (last name)" when speaking to them and Dear Governor (last name) when to them. The envelope should read, "The Honourable (first and last name), Governor of (state)," followed by the address. The mayor of a town or city can be verbally addressed in three proper ways: "Mayor (last name);" "Mr. or Madam Mayor;" or "Your Honour." The salutation of a letter should read, "Dear Mayor (last name)," and envelopes are addressed to "The Honourable (first and last names), City Hall," followed by the address.


      2.  UK


      British honours are awarded on merit, for exceptional achievement or service. In 1993 the then Prime Minister, John Major, ended the automatic practice of conferring awards on the holders of certain posts, opening the honours system to more people - particularly those in the voluntary sector - who qualify on merit. Most honours are announced in one of the two annual sets of honours lists - one at New Year and the other in June, on the Queen’s official birthday. The Queen chooses the recipients of honours on the advice of the Prime Minister and other relevant ministers, to whom recommendations are made by their departments or members of the public.

      The various honours include:


      -Life Peers: These titles are not hereditary and are the only form of peerage regularly created by the Queen nowadays.
      -Baronetcies: A baronetcy is a heritable honour - a title that is passed on to male heirs.
      -Knighthoods: Knights may be either Knights Bachelor, or members of one of the Orders of Chivalry. The honour of knighthood derives from the usages of medieval chivalry, as does the method normally used to confer the knighthood: the accolade, or touch of a sword by the Sovereign.
      -The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: this award is given mainly to civilians and service personnel for public service and other distinctions. The OBE and MBE are the two orders most commonly awarded to men and women for services to their country.




      Right Honourable (Rt Hon) is the form of address used for people holding the following titles or offices: an earl or countess, a viscount, a baron, a Lord Mayor (the title given to the Mayor of London and other large cities) and a Privy Councillor. All Cabinet ministers are members of the Privy Council, the private council of the Sovereign. The full title appears in the form ‘The Right Honourable the Earl of Derby’, for example.


      Information on the protocol of addressing holders of honours and titles can be found in ‘Whitaker’s Almanac’ (published annually) and ‘Debrett’s Correct Form’ (Webb and Bower, Exeter).


ADVANCED WRITING: A GLOSSARY OF TEXT TYPES