Two Language Points

A couple of points which keep repeating themselves in your compositions.

i) Downtown.

Downtown in English is not a noun. You cannot say, for example, 'I meet my friends in the downtown'.

Downtown in English can be used as an adjective, eg 'We met in a downtown restaurant.'

It can also be used as an adverb, eg 'We're going downtown later on - do you want to come too?'

If you find yourself writing 'in the downtown', change it for 'in the town centre' or 'in the city centre'.


ii) Everyday and every day

'Everyday' is an adjective. 'It was an everyday occurence.' 'Violence is part of everyday viewing on tv.'

'Every day' is an adverbial time expression. 'We met every day.' 'Hundreds of visitors come to the museum every day.'
The same is true of the expression 'every time', though there is no adjective, 'everytime'.

These are the kinds of mistakes it's very easy to edit for when you've finished writing a composition. Just read through and see if you've made either of them!

The Tibet Connection

For anyone who found the film 'Kundun' interesting, or who is thinking about writing about that question, here are a couple of related links.

First, an article from 'The Australian', which gives a nice overview of the situation. This is the article which reports that the Chinese State Administration for Religious Affairs has said that the reincarnation of a Buddha 'without government approval is illegal and invalid'.

Secondly, do take a look at Michael Palin's excellent website, and the pages on The Himalaya. You can actually read the whole book and see all the photos from Michael's tv series here.

Finally, a very interesting podcast - a 25-minute radio programme from 'The Tibet Connection'. This would be good listening practice apart from anything else, and the programme is well worth listening to. Details and link to the podcast below.

The Tibet Connection for March 2009

OUR MARCH 09 PROGRAM FEATURES: FROM THE NEWS DESK: WHAT'S ON THE DALAI LAMA'S MIND? Acclaimed travel writer and essayist PICO IYER speaks with Christal Smith about how the Tibetan leader is thinking at this critical historical juncture...WITNESS TO HISTORY: Dolma was just giving birth to a baby girl. Pema Dhondup brings this report about what Dolma saw on those fateful days in March 1959...THE SERF QUESTION: We speak with DR. JOHN POWERS a professor of Asian Studies and Histories at Australian National University, did China liberate Tibetans from the yoke of feudalism as Beijing claims?...TIBET UPDATE REPORT: Executive Producer and Asian Correspondent Rebecca Novick speaks with reporter LHAKPA KYIZOM about what Tibetans in Tibet are feeling and why they continue to protest even in the face of China's severe crackdown...NEWS ROUND UP: Chinese government announces 50th anniversary celebrations of "democratic reform" in Tibet; Tibetans boycott New Year; Tibetan youth dies in custody; clashes with police and monks in Eastern Tibet, and more...

Listen to Entire Program

AC2.1 (CPE1) Easter Homework

1 - Write a review of the film ‘Kundun’, considering how effectively the film puts the the tradition of the Dalai Lama and the history of the Chinese occupation of Tibet into context, and commenting on the current situation of Tibet and the Dalai Lama.

You may wish to consult the links relating to the Tibet issue, above, before you attempt this question.

Write your review


2 - Write a review of the film ‘Thunderball’, considering how well the film reflects the story and characters of the book, and commenting in general on the way books are adapted for the cinema.

Write your review


3 - An international English language student magazine is planning to run a series of articles about the importance of music to people in different countries. It has invited readers to contribute articles. You have decided to write an article about the importance of music to people in your country. Write your article, including information about traditions, history, entertainment, and emotions.

Write your article

AC2.2 (CPE2) - Easter Homework

The homework for this Easter break is Test 3, papers 1, 2, and 3 from your book of past exam papers. You should hand in the summary and the first composition (part 1, question 1, the compulsory question) in your first lesson back after the break. You should hand in the second composition, part 2, by the third lesson after the break. Deadlines are final.

If you find the questions in part 2 stiflingly boring, I've suggested a couple of alternatives below which have to do with things we've done in class recently. Feel free to write one of these instead of the part two question from the book if you prefer, but do stick to the exam format, especially if you're taking the exam in June! If you prefer the questions in the book, then of course, that is fine.

Alternative Questions for Part 2

Alt 1 - Write a review of the film ‘Kundun’, considering how effectively the film puts the the tradition of the Dalai Lama and the history of the Chinese occupation of Tibet into context, and commenting on the current situation of Tibet and the Dalai Lama.

You may wish to consult the links relating to the Tibet issue, above, before you attempt this question.

Write your review



Alt 2 - An international English language student magazine is planning to run a series of articles about the importance of music to people in different countries. It has invited readers to contribute articles. You have decided to write an article about the importance of music to people in your country. Write your article, including information about traditions, history, entertainment, and emotions.

Write your article



Alt 3 - You have recently read an article in an English language newspaper with the headline, ‘Pope Out of Touch’. The article criticizes the Pope’s views on abortion and the use of condoms, particularly in the light of the recent excommunication of the mother of a 9-year-old girl, pregnant with twins from her stepfather, who gave her permission for her to have an abortion, and his recent visit to Africa and his comments on condoms and the spread of HIV. Write a letter to the newspaper giving your views on this.

You may like to consult these links before you attempt this question.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/27/pope-aids-hiv-lancet
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7967173.stm

Write your letter

Dreams From My Father

Here is the list of the chapters of 'Dreams From My Father' indicating which ones are compulsory reading.

Chapter
Compulsory (or not?)
Main topics

ORIGINS

1
Compulsory to page 11
News of the death of Barack´s father
Childhood stories about Barack´s father
About Barack´s white American grandparents (Gramps and Toots)
How his parents met and the historical/political/cultural background

2
-
Growing up in Indonésia with Lobo, Barack´s step-father
Lobo´s lifestory, or tragic fate!

3
-
Attending school in Hawaii as a boy
Estrangement from white grandparents
Visit from Barack´s father
Betrayal of Coretta, the other black child at school

4
Compulsory
Attending high school in Hawaii as a teenager – thoughts of own identity and how to fit in

5
Compulsory
Going to college in LA – awareness of different political stances towards racial difference
Barack´s first public political speech

6
-
Studying/working in New York


CHICAGO

7
-
Applying for a job as a community organiser.
Meeting Marty, the Jewish community activist.

8
-
First projects and disappointments as a community organiser

9
Compulsory
A description of Altgeld –a poor, black housing estate in Chigaco
Getting to know the estate and the community leaders there

10
Compulsory
Ruby´s blue contact lenses – symbolic of black low self-esteem?
Going to see a film (– black pride?)

11
Compulsory
Visit from Auma (Barack´s half-sister)
The true (tragic) story of what happened to “The Old Man” (Barack´s father.)

12
Compulsory
Altgeld and the abestos campaign
About the women community leaders

13
Compulsory
Youth counselling
The problem of disaffected youths
Roy (Barack´s younger half-brother)

14
Compulsory
Finding a faith?
The Church and the “audacity of hope” sermon


KENYA

15
-
Arrival

16
Compulsory
What is family?

17
-
Going on Safari
About colonialism

18
-
Train journey and visit to Kisumu (Home Squared)

19
Compulsory
Granny´s story of the African ancestors, Barack´s grandfather and the Old Man
(Intimations of the oral tradition?)

Epilogue
Compulsory
A happy ending!
Roy´s transformation (and conversion to Islam)

CPE EXAM REGISTRATION!

Please remember that the last day you can register for the CPE exam is this coming Friday, Friday March 6th. After this date you will pay a substantial extra fee for late registration.

More information here.