B2 readers

Hi, everyone!

These are the readers we're studying this course. In case you've already read The curious incident of the dog in the night-time, we'll let you know what else to read.

•  Agatha Christie. Death on the Nile. Penguin Readers. Level 5. Pearson Longman.


• Mark Haddon. The curious incident of the dog in the night-time. DFB


• Nick Hornby. About a boy (full text, not the abridged reader from Penguin).

[slideshow]

the news - British Education Secretary apologizes to former teacher

ADVANCED LEVEL

 

Hi, everyone!

 

On the following link, you can find this interesting piece of news:

 

 

Michael Gove, Education Secretary, apologizes to his former French teacher for misbehaving in class when he was 15.

 

lyrics training - PARADISE

Hi, everyone!

You can practise your listening as well as your writing (actually, typing) skills online. Click and explore lyricstraining, a website where you can listen to your favourite tunes and study at the same time. As an example, and for you to get started, I've chosen Paradise, by Coldplay. Click on the link to go to the song. There, you can try the intermediate level, and see how many words you get right.

PARADISE

B2 listening comprehension - the psychic

 

Hi, everyone!

This is the listening comprehension part in unit 1B. As usual, you can find the KEY down below.

 

track 1.6

[audio="http://www.ivoox.com/nef-upper-intermediate-1-6_mn_1526222_1.mp3"]

track 1.7

[audio="http://www.ivoox.com/nef-upper-intermediate-1-7_mn_1526223_1.mp3"]

track 1.8

[audio="http://www.ivoox.com/nef-upper-intermediate-1-8_mn_1526224_1.mp3"]

track 1.9

[audio="http://www.ivoox.com/nef-upper-intermediate-1-9_mn_1526227_1.mp3"]

KEY

exercise b.

part 1

1. Positive - Sally's office was more normal than she expected and Sally looked kind and sincere


2. Are you married? and Do you have any children?


3. Because she mentions two things which don't mean anything to Jane, i.e. the name Caroline and Australia.

part 2

1. T (She grew up there)


2. F (he is someone she already knows)


3. T (She's 1m 90.)


4. F (It is his brain that will attract her) 


5. F (She can't think of anyone who fits the description)

part 3

1. a  2. b  3. b

exercise e.    She thinks Sally is good at judging people's character but doesn't have any special abilities. However, since she saw Sally, she has met a professor who has invited her to go to Australia - two things which Sally predicted.

 

FUN vs FUNNY

B2 listening comprehension - SPEED DATING

Hi, everyone!



This is the listening comprehension audio track from unit 1A, the one about speed dating. The KEY is included at the end of the post, below the text, the picture and the audio buttons.

track 1.3

[audio="http://www.ivoox.com/nef-upper-intermediate-1-3_mn_1515234_1.mp3"]

KEY

Speed dating was successful for Alex -- he married his second date, but Emily didn't have any successful dates.

1. B  2. B  3. E  4. A  5. E  6. E  7. A  8. A  9. E

Firework

Hi, everyone!

I've just come across this video on Youtube and thought it might be interesting to you. See if you can understand what they say and ask me in class for clarifications. The text below is an excerpt from the video's info box.

"Katy Perry and Jodi DiPiazza sing "Firework" at the Beacon Theater in New York. "Night of Too Many Stars: America Comes Together for Autism Programs" is hosted by comedian and presenter Jon Stewart and raises money for autism programs, schools, and services all over the USA".

B2 Treasure restored

Hi, everyone!

These are the treasure restored handouts I gave out in class. You can also do the listening comprehension exercises by clicking on the buttons below.

track 27

[audio="http://www.ivoox.com/treasure-restored-27_mn_1506207_1.mp3"]

track 28

[audio="http://www.ivoox.com/treasure-restored-28_mn_1506210_1.mp3"]

[scribd id=110426848 key=key-rdw8iq97vh6weefpwns mode=scroll]

KEY

2. 1- potter  2- wealthy  3- vineyard  4- undamaged  5- merchant  6- ship  7- wrecked  8- divers  9- restorer  10- auction  11- museum

4. 1-b  2-g  3-d  4-f  5-a  6-e  7-c

5. 1- No, she isn't.  2- The Egyptian mummies

B2 auxiliaries & key

Hi, everyone!

You can find below just a few exercises on auxiliaries, along with the corresponding key at the end of the document.

[scribd id=110425438 key=key-2nbabgfwhhanan7zw0i6 mode=scroll]

B2 questions & key

Hi, everyone!

In the document below you can find a few exercises on questions for you to practise some more. The KEY is at the end of the document.

[scribd id=109692201 key=key-1wmwl51734u7410sw3xz mode=scroll]

B2 writing - an informal letter

This the informal letter handout we've been working with in class. If you want the model composition for exercise F (page 6), request it by sending me an email.

[scribd id=108871383 key=key-ksj6usciyn21fqv8chb mode=scroll]