Last lesson today- results of the National Test

Hi everybody!

Today is our last day of the course...

I will talk to you individually about your national test results
and we will do some quizzes  and have some FIKA!

10.45 Presentations

So, you have 35 minutes to do some work on your project.
At 10.45 we will meet and start doing our presentations.

Tuesday- we will complete them and start to talk about grades for the national test and the course...

The unique project

Today we continue with our unique learning project which should be based on a non-googleable- or at least regoogled idea!!!
You can get some inspiration from notosh.com Examples:

Short story
Song
Poem(s)
Piece of music with explanation
Sketch/short play
TV program (short)!

PBL (problem based learning) - If Santa doesn't exist why do we continue to act as if he does!!!!!!!!

Something out of the box! (example using the film "Last King of Scotland" as a preparation for going to Uganda)

How about "My life as a...." (menthol cigarette, guinea pig etc.)

We will start with the presentations at 10.45 on Friday.

All have to be present by then!!

Final Project

Today we start our final project!
More instructions during the class!

Writing Tomorrow

Tomorrow at 8 a.m. we will be doing the Writing Part of the National Test.

It is important to be as well prepared as possible..

Remember the following points:

• Read the instructions CAREFULLY
• Choose the topic you are going to write
• Plan  (structure/ vocabulary)
• Remember PARAGRAPHS
• Remember LINK WORDS
• Remember the important structures (report with Headings etc)

Please read the Context book page 251-255 to get some inspiration and relevant information.

Linking words

https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/4_writingskills/writing_tuts/linking_LL/linking3.html

Finally BEFORE YOU HAND IN:

• CHECK THE SPELLING AGAINST THE KEY WORDS
• CHECK SPELLING OF HARD WORDS-WHICH, WITH ETC
• CHECK SUBJECT -VERB AGREEMENTS

The boy playS

The children listenX

• CHECK TENSES

Classroom

In Room 1203  (Mike)

Those who need to use the computer

In 1224 (Pernilla)

Same procedure as last time

We continue with the speaking tests today (8 students) and the rest of the time see the blog entry for last time.

I have even brought along another improve your reading book for you to practise on!

Speaking National Test

Today we are going to start the Speaking part of the National Test..

10 students ( 5 pairs) will record their discussions in the Lingotek..

There is a document to help you. You have the lesson to get the recording done.

For the rest of the class the time will be spent preparing for the other parts of the national test.

Use headphones and do some listening exercises.

Check out the reading part of the national test and do some of the past papers

Here is the link to the site:
http://nafs.gu.se/prov_engelska/exempel_provuppgifter/engelska_5_exempeluppg

I can really recommend the resources pages in the Context book as well.

You can even borrow one of the Improve Your Reading A Course books during the lesson. Make sure you return it at the end.



Good luck!

Speaking Test NP English 5

We start the speaking test (NP) this Friday. 
Here is the relevant information 
Topic: Acts of Kindness 
Introduction: 
It is important to care about each other, to be kind and support people who need help. 
Being kind means doing that little extra, that little bit more than might be expected. 
Everybody needs kindness from time to time. 

You will discuss this topic in pairs with the materials given. 

Good luck!

Today- book questions

This Friday we will begin the speaking part of the National Test...in pairs
It will be recorded in the Lingotek.

To log in you will need your utb: log in details

Today, it is the 10 questions about your novel.. Here is a copy of the document for those who can do it using the computer.

Otherwise answer the questions on the paper document.

Tove, Elin, Sophia, Fanny and Oliver can work in the Green Room preparing for the National Test or on other materials using the following link:

http://nafs.gu.se/prov_engelska/exempel_provuppgifter/engelska_5_exempeluppg

Book questions

Today you will have a chance to prepare for the book questions on the novel you have read.

Here are the questions:

These are the 10 questions I want you to think about when you talk about/ write about your book.

1. Which character (person)did you like the most Why ?

2.Who is the most important character in the book ? Why do you think that?

3. Do any characters change ( förändras) during the course of the novel (romanen) ? Explain!

4.In what way Is the language in your novel difficult ? Give examples!

5. Is there a lot of dialogue in the novel ? How do the characters communicate?(for example letters/ e-mail/ text-messages etc.)

6. Did you enjoy the plot (handling) of the novel ? Explain!

7. Is the plot of your novel believable or unbelievable ? Give examples!

8. Describe an important scene from your novel.

9. What is the message (budskap) of your novel ?Was it clear?

10.Did you enjoy the novel or not ? Explain your opinion(åsikt).

You will write the answers on Tuesday next week

First lesson after Easter!

Start off by doing an interview with someone in the class you wouldn't normally sit with!!!

Here are the questions:

Easter  break

1. Where did you spend the Easter holidays ? Did you travel at all?

2. In what way (if any) did you use the time to practice sports/ recreation ?

3. Describe the most boring day of the break.

4. Describe the best day of the break.

5. What was the best/ worst thing about your holiday ?

6. How does it feel like to be back at school ?

7. Do you think the break was too short / just right /  too long ?

8. How much English did you hear/ speak during the break ? (explain!)

9, What traditions (if any) do you and your family have which are associated with Easter?

10. If you compare Easter and Christmas which one feels more relevant to you and why?

Today we are going to work practising the parts of the national test:

Here is the link-

http://nafs.gu.se/prov_engelska/exempel_provuppgifter/engelska_5_exempeluppg

Next week we will be doing an introduction to "varan" by seeing the film "Darwin's Nightmare" 

Station Day

Today we work in a little bit of a different way.

You will need a pen- nothing else

The environment- The tragedy of Flint

Today we continue our look at the environment-

Last time we looked at two things that affect us DIRECTLY-
buying t-shirts and chocolate.
Remember?

Check out these websites:
http://www.ekologiskatshirts.se/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=87_148

http://www.divinechocolate.com/uk/

But now we turn to people who are living in a dangerous environment because of the greed of their leaders. On 6th March it was the reason for a heated debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders as a focus for the Michigan Primary election.
The film tells its own story..
 




The water crisis that is currently gripping residents of Flint, Michigan is one of the most tragic predicaments of recent times. 

It is all the more tragic for being entirely preventable. 

The hot-off-the-press documentary Here's to Flint explores the events which lead to this catastrophy, and offers an urgent and rousing portrait of ordinary citizens who are fearless in standing up to power.


It all began as a cost-cutting measure enacted by the city's emergency management department. By switching the city's water supply from the bountiful Lake Huron and Detroit River to the highly polluted Flint River, officials set in motion a series of calamatous health hazards to which much of the public was largely unaware. 
When residents did complain about the quality of the dirty water, their protests fell on deaf ears. That all changed when mysterious illnesses began to grip the people of Flint, much of them children, in the form of rashes, hair loss, nervous system disorders and cancer. 

Flint's water contained alarmingly elevated levels of lead, a chemical that poses disastrous health implications when consumed in even the smallest quantities.
The film rightfully sheds a harsh light on the cuplrits behind this crisis - the officials who placed the lives of their poverty-stricken, largely African American community members at risk in an attempt to save five million dollars - and places us inside the public hearings where these enraged citizens demand meaningful corrective action. 

Their future, and the lives of their children, depend on it.
Produced with great insight and humanity by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, Here's to Flint is a profoundly sad statement on a government which is blinded by greed to the plight of its people. 


The water crisis in Flint has become a hot button political issue this campaign season, and the ultimate outcome may not be determined for some time. After all, contaminated water supplies are rampant throughout many parts of the United States. For those communities, the story of Flint should serve as both a precautionary tale, and an inspiring blueprint for how to take back our power from ruthless and apathetic leaders.

No visit sadly. We start on our theme of the environment

Today we were supposed to have a visit from the group from Uganda and see the start of a film together about the environmental effects of fishing in Lake Victoria.

The film is called "Darwin's Nightmare"





We will see it in week 14 after Easter..

Today we will start our theme of the environment by looking at two things we take for granted- T-shirts and chocolate..

The idea is to waken up a bit and realise the effects our consumenr society has on the environment.

Afterwards I want you to record a comment on one of the films using the video recorder on the message function in Vklass.

Writing Assignment

Today we will use the whole lesson to finish off the writing assignment which you started last time..

Remember that you should write at least 250 words ( that is, for example, 5 paragraphs with 50 words in each)

I want to get around and talk to all the students during the lesson about their assignments.


When you've completed your assignmnet and I have seen your work you may go.


Have a good week-end!

Back on track, Jaffa Cakes and writing assignment

Today we start off by doing a short interview about the half-term break.

Here it is:

Half-Term holidays

Interview

Interviewer………………… Interviewed……………………….

1. Where did you spend your holidays Did you travel anywhere?

2. Which sports, if any, did you practise?

3. What else did you do? Choose 6  activities and say them in the past tense

Watch TV                                                    Buy clothes

Go to the cinema                                        go to the hairdresser’s

Visit Stockholm                                          lose something

Eat meatballs                                              swim

Speak English                                            Study…..

Earn money                                                Take photos

Ski (Downhill/ cross country)                  Drink coffee

Write a letter                                               Go to a party

4. How does it feel like to be back at school ?

5. Do you think the holidays were too short / just right / too long ?

6. How much time did you spend sleeping during the holidays ?

(An awful lot, a lot, as normal, less tan normal)

During the holidays I was in the land of the Jaffa Cakes. So I bought a packet and took it back so that you might, at least, taste one!

Finally today we are turning to writing as a skill.

Here is an excellent presentation which I have borrowed from Pernilla

At the beginning of the term you gave some suggestions for possible topics:

Here are three of them:

These are:
1. A big event

2. School and education

3. My future

Afterwards I want you to start planning your writing for today and Friday.

Which title?

What is the format?

Key- words

Structure

Linking words

Here is some help:-
Which title?

1. a) My ideal school   or  b) Compulsory schooling until 18

/  2. a)  My future  or  b) A future scenario


  3.  A big event  (Concert/ exhibition/ sporting event/ celebration / LAN )

What is the format?
Report  ( 1b/ 2b)
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Report

Essay (1a/ 2a)
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Essay

Article  (3)
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-Articles

Keywords (key words)
 1. Education, schooling classroom, resources, teacher, pupil, learning etc.

2. Plans, expectations. status, dreams, education, training, employment, etc.

3. Planning, marketing, participants, audience, spectators, venue etc

Structure
Introduction

paragraphing

 Conclusion

Linking Words
http://www.english-at-home.com/grammar/linking-words/   

Now choose your title, start planning and begin writing.


Your work should be mailed to me before the Tuesday lesson week 11

The commitments Part 2)

Today we are going to see the second part of the movie "The commitments".

The film is based on the book of the same name by Roddy Doyle

Many of Roddy Doyle's books are based on the north side of Dublin where there have been a lot of problems of unemployment, social isolation and addiction.

The characters in the film (book) reflect this misery. Their language, social values and lifestyles reflect the problems which they face.

So, how can you find a way of getting out of the circle of poverty?
Traditionally, music and sports have been a way for people to break the circle of poverty and achieve success.

This is the story of the Rise and Fall of the Commitments- "the hardest working band in the world"

After the film I want you to discuss why you think they chose soul music as their goal?

What are the roots of soul music?

What other ways are there for people from the ghetto to succeed in life?

Why did their dream go wrong? What should they have done differently?

Can you think of any examples in real life of successful groups who have broken up and gone their own way?

Finally, the film was almost like a musical. Before that was a very popular kind of film. Why do you think it is not popular today?

Discuss these questions.

Finally how many people have already read their book and would like to do the questions in week 10?

Hope you have a great holiday.

See you on the  8th March

Film week

Just as we did in the autumn term, we will use the week before your mid-term break (sportlov) to see a film.

I have tried to choose a film that can ppeal to both social scientists and musicians.

It is based on a book by a famous Irish author called Roddy Doyle.

In his stories the characters are on the margin of society and are trying to find a way to reach fulfilment and meaning.

In this film it is through soul music.

Those who missed the test will do it today..

It doesn't take too many minutes..

We continue on Friday and then there will be group discussions and a brief comment on the film..

Mini-test on "My best friend's dad"

Bring a pen and a smile!

Revision for Mini-Test on Best Friend's Dad

Today we are going to revise for a mini-test which will be this Friday.

The subject is the text from from Echo Short Stories- My Best Friend's Dad.

The test will consist of 4 parts:

1. Knowing the text- Re-read the text today so that you can AT LEAST answer the comprehension questions on page 66 (what happened)

2.Words from the text-You should know the meaning of the words in the exercise with the same name on page 67

3. Phrases from the text-Check out the meaning of the phrases on page 67/68

4.Write about the text- Either continue the text where it left off or a letter from either Anisha or Charlie to the other person the day after they have found out the truth.

Good luck!

Remember all the answers are on the webpage...

While this is going on I'm going to start to talk to you about your grades

Completion of National Test and "My best friend's dad"

Today I want those who haven't completed the National Test to do so.

1. Role Play
2 or 3 students

Either Anisha and Dad   OR   Anisha, Charlie and Dad

Continue where the story left off...

How?  Why?  When?  Where ?  What next?



2. Exercises from the book:-

P. 66

What happened- Discuss ORALLY with your neighbour

p. 67

WORDS

p. 69

DISCUSS Charlie/Anisha's Dad

3. Exercises from the Internet:-

a)Online exercises

b)Listening Comprehension
Listen to the text about Divorce and fill in the worksheet

My best friend's dad- Bali Rai

Now most people have done the Reading and Listening. I will try to get all the papers marked and back by the beginning of next week.

Please inform me if you have missed either part of the test.

The next few lessons we will work with a short story from the Echo Short Stories book which was the most requested in your planning.

The story is called "My best friend's dad" by Bali Rai.

Bali Rai is a writer for mostly young people who lives in the city of Leicester in a very multicultural community.

All of his books are set there in a real melting pot of people from different countries, backgrounds, religious beliefs etc.

Here he is in a short YouTube clip talking about his home city


He is a very successful writer and has written loads of books about burning subjects.

Here is his homepage.

Working in pairs I'm going to give you a 5 minute task of finding out what the theme of his different books are:


Now to today's Short Story.

As you can see on page 66 there are loads of ways of practising reading using different methods.

We are going to start off by listening to the story WITHOUT the book open.

What impressions do you get of Anisha and Charlie?

If they were living in Sweden what kind of place would be in focus?

What is the twist at the end of the story?

How believable is it?

NOW read the story in pairs. Stop at the bottom of each page...

Any new words, slang or other surprises?

Loads of really English things that you've probably never heard of..
Examples?

Finally DO a roleplay between Anisha and her father after the story ends!

Preparation for reading and listening

Next week we are going to try our hand at a past paper for the English 5  (formerly Engelska A) course.

There are loads of materials available on the web.

The best one is  HERE.

To practise the reading we have some books

which you can borrow during ther lesson

To practise the listening you can also use:
www.esl-lab.com

We will start off with the Reading part on Tuesday and then continue with the Listening on Friday..

Today you will be able to work with the skill that you feel is most important to you!

Here is a link to the grade guidelines

Planner and 3x music

Today we start off by going through the term planner together.

Here is the link.

Remember that the planner is provisional and can be changed.
You will get a paper copy for reference

The planner is based on your suggestions:-

Carl, Tove, Viola och Klara

Deltagare: Carl Bielsten, Michael Hegarty

Skapat av: Carl Bielsten

Skapat: Tisdag 12 januari 2016 kl: 13:38, Senaste inlägg: Tisdag 12 januari 2016 kl: 13:38

Tisdag 12 januari 2016 kl: 13:38

1. We think we should give speaking priority. Speaking in groups. Methods we should use is the internet.
2. Listen to different accents.
3. Sit and talk in small groups and disscuse differents topics.
4.City of angels, chapter 5 page 59 (Context)
My best friend's dad chapter 5 page 57 (Echo short stories.)
5. How your life looks like in 10 years.

Linnéa, Josefina, Elin, Anna 12/1-16

Writing, for example novels, learn words form the webbed. –

 Reading, for example read books. - Talk, for example talk in small groups –

Listening, for example watch at some film A topic for a writing assignment about: - My worst/best memory A topic from the Echo: - We want work with ”Fly Away Home” Chapter 6.

Planning. Fanny, Lukas, Pontus and Trolle

Deltagare: Fanny Lompolo, Michael Hegarty (Lägg till ny deltagare)

Skapat av: Fanny Lompolo

Skapat: Tisdag 12 januari 2016 kl: 13:45, Senaste inlägg: Tisdag 12 januari 2016 kl: 13:45

Tisdag 12 januari 2016 kl: 13:45

1.     Speaking and reading. Speaking is important as you're probably going to use it the most. It's the most used language. A lot of the students don't seem to read much so we think that we should read more short stories and novels.

2. Movies (without the subtitles). Speaking with people whose native language is English.

3. The conversation starters seemed to get people talking so we could use them more. Talk with people whose native language is English.

4. Context: 3x Music
Echo Short Stories: The Great Satan.

5. An assignment about How unfair the world is might be fun.

Planning - Maja, Smårs, Patricia, Celina and Nellie.

Deltagare: Susanna Smårs, Michael Hegarty (Lägg till ny deltagare)

Skapat av: Susanna Smårs

Skapat: Tisdag 12 januari 2016 kl: 13:47, Senaste inlägg: Tisdag 12 januari 2016 kl: 13:47

Tisdag 12 januari 2016 kl: 13:47

1.We think we should prioritize writing and listening, the Internet would be a great way to practice this.
2.Hörförståelse.
3.In SMALL groups like today.
4.3xMusic and My best friend's dad.
5.What comes after death.

Oliver Rolands

Tisdag 12 januari 2016 kl: 13:44

Frågor angående planering av kursen 

1. Vi tycker att vi kan jobba mycket med att skriva och grammatik.
2. Vi skulle till exempel kunna översätta sånger eller kolla på filmer.
3. Vi tycker att vi kan jobba mer i grupp men vi tycker inte att ”conversation starters” var särskilt bra, vi skulle hellre vilja diskutera större ämnen eller en text/film vi läst/sett.
4. Våra förslag är Mollusks (sid. 163) i textboken och The Purse is Mine (sid. 85) i Short Stories.
5. Vi är lite oense om vad vi vill skriva om, vissa vill skriva om specifika personer/djur medan andra vill skriva om mer allmänna och djupa ämnen/frågor/problem. 

Oliver, Alfred, Sophia och Cornelia

Planing, samuel bella andreas alva

Deltagare: Gabriella Andersson, Michael Hegarty (Lägg till ny deltagare)

Skapat av: Gabriella Andersson

Skapat: Tisdag 12 januari 2016 kl: 13:44, Senaste inlägg: Tisdag 12 januari 2016 kl: 13:44

Tisdag 12 januari 2016 kl: 13:44

1: Speaking, internet and group projects
2:Movie
3: Swinging in london, chapter 10
The Ravine,text 4 
4: A big happening.

After going through the planner we will continue with our work on 3x music

Listening
Listen to the radio program about banning music.
Answer the questions on the sheet.

Vocabulary
How good are you at finding words that mean the same as others.

Do Exercise D on page 205

Finally
Go in on the gleerups web (gleerupsportal.se)

Do 2-3 of the exercises on Context +

  Vocabulary 1: Text related words

  Vocabulary 2: Expressions

  Musical idioms

  Hit the road with rodie slang

  Word formation: Adjectives

3x music

Today we continue to work on the 3x music text.


Word knowledge

We are going to listen to the text and stop to ask questions and explain what words mean.

Then we are going to work in pairs and ask each other the questions for Exercise A and B on page 204.

You will do this orally.

By the end you should both know all the answers...

Role Plays
Still in your pairs Do AT LEAST one of the role plays on page 205 (exercise C)

Vocabulary
How good are you at finding words that mean the same as others.

Do Exercise D on page 205

Listening
Listen to the radio program about banning music.
Answer the questions on the sheet.

Finally
Go in on the gleerups web (gleerupsportal.se)

Do 2-3 of the exercises on Context +

Impelementation of your suggestions

We start off today by updating the list of novels you will be reading this spring.
You have until sometime in April you get your book read.

Thank you for your suggestions for different aspects of the English course.

With regard to the texts from Context 1 and Echo Short Stories- only 2 texts got more than 1 group vote.

These are :

Context 1- Chapter 15    3X Music  (p.194)

Echo short stories-  5. My best friend's dad ( p. 57)

We will start today with 3x Music  (week 3 and 4) and then My best friend's dad (week 6 & 7)

Week 8 we will have a test on these two texts (läromedelsprov)

Week 5 we will do a "mock" listening and reading of the national test just to see the level.

By Friday I will be done with the term planner and next week we will begin with grade talks..

Today we start with 3x music.

The text is really 3 texts. In groups of three you will read one part of the text and then take 10 minutes to tell each other about it.

Make sure you write up any new words. There is a word list which should be sent in by the end of week 4.

After that I want you to imagine that you are the person who wrote the text ( see information after each text).

Write about 5- 10 lines about a typical day for you- where you are; who you meet; what you do; your struggles and successes.

When you have sent it we are done!

Choose a book and discuss mobile phones

Thank you for all of your suggestions for the planner.
I will try to get a planner together based on them by next week.


Today I want you to choose a book (novel) that you will read this term.

Write your name and the title/author on the list.
Next lesson BRING ALONG YOUR BOOK FOR ME TO SEE

Later on you will answer questions about it in class and discuss it in small groups.

Here are the questions:

Literature Questions for book reading

These are the 10 questions I want you to think about when you talk about/ write about your book.

1. Which character (person)did you like the most Why ?

2.Who is the most important character in the book ? Why do you think that?

3. Do any characters change ( förändras) during the course of the novel (romanen) ? Explain!

4.In what way Is the language in your novel difficult ? Give examples!

5. Is there a lot of dialogue in the novel ? How do the characters communicate?(for example letters/ e-mail/ text-messages etc.)

6. Did you enjoy the plot (handling) of the novel ? Explain!

7. Is the plot of your novel believable or unbelievable ? Give examples!

8. Describe an important scene from your novel.

9. What is the message (budskap) of your novel ?Was it clear?

10.Did you enjoy the novel or not ? Explain your opinion(åsikt).

Today we will discuss the use of the mobile phone.

I will give you a gap-fill text about mobile phones.

The text was written a few years ago. Which year do you think?

What changes have come since this text was written? Discuss with your neighbour and check up on the facts on internet..

At the end of the lesson I want you to log in on the gleerups portal and do at least one EXTRA GRAMMAR EXERCISE

Welcome back to 2016

Hope it feels ok to be back in school.
We start off by doing an interview about your Christmas holidays.
Here is the document!

We can continue speaking by using some conversation starters.
We will do this in groups of four.


Then we will practise a little bit of grammar- namely phrasal verbs. A phrasal verb consists of a verb + preposition which has an idiomatic meaning.

The problem is that the prepositions often are different comparing English and Swedish  e.g se UPP ----}  look OUT
Look up means something completely different.
I LOOKED UP the meaning of the word in a dictionary. (slå upp)
Here is the document.

 Then we are going to do a listening exercise.
Here is the link.


The course consists of two novels.
We have read "Looking for Alaska" together.
You need to choose a book of your own for this term.
There are novels in the cupboard in the corridoor.


Finally, working in groups of four we are going to do some planning for the course:

1. What areas do you should we should give priority to this term?  (speaking, writing, reading, listening) ? Which methods should we use most grammar work, text book, internet, vocabulary etc.? 

2.Decide in the group on one way we can practise listening

3.Decide one way in the group we can practise speaking

4. Decide on one text from "Context" we can work on together./ Decide one story from Echo Short stories we can work on.

5.   Decide on one topic in the group we can do a writing assignment about.

Mail your answers to me by the end of the lesson on vklass