CAEX HOMEWORK

First of all, if you haven't already done it, you should do one of the compositions I set last week, either 'You Are What You Care About' or 'Good and Bad Role Models'. Scroll down this page and see my post of October 20 for details.

THIS week's homework is to do either question 3 or 4 on page 43 of your exam practice book - the competition entry or the article. If you would like to do the part 1 question as well, please do. Either scan your work [a good copy, please! :) ] and email it to me, or hand it in in the next class.

Don't forget to check thelink.lefora.com from time to time, and see if there's anything you want to add or comment on there.

And have a good Halloween!

T7 Homework

Here's a CAE-type writing task, based on the topic of the last couple of lessons. You should email this to me or hand it in to me in our next class, on Friday November 11th.

You and your friend Alexia are looking for a holiday job in an English-speaking country. Read the note from Alexia, and the two adverts, below. Then, using the information given, write a letter to Alexia, comparing the two jobs, saying which you think is more suitable, and giving reasons for your opinion.

Hi!
I found these two job ads for holiday work in the paper yesterday. I know we were thinking about London, but there are no good jobs there, and these two jobs look really interesting. Which do you think would be better for us?

- Alexia

The MacDuff and Lady Beth Pub

Staff needed for our busy pub

- Central Edinburgh

- Friendly international staff

- Basic pay plus tips

- Lots of cheap accommodation available nearby

Skiberdeen Campsite

Do you enjoy working with young people? Are you creative and organised? Would you like to explore the very south of Ireland?

We need people to help organise the summer activity programme on our campsite.

- Set in beautiful countryside

- Beautiful fishing town and beaches nearby

- Good rates of pay

- Accommodation provided

Prof 4 Homework

Here is the choice of compositions for your first assessed homework writing. You should give your composition to me by Tuesday November 1st. Preferably write your composition by hand, and hand it in in class. Note that the third choice refers to the topic we didn't do last class because we went to the 'My Choice' exhibition. We'll do this this Tuesday.

Choose one of these questions, and write 300-350 words.

1. It is said that owners often end up looking like their pets. Write an article for a student magazine, giving your opinion about this.
   
   
   

2. Recently you have read about how global temperature can profoundly affect rainfall patterns. Write a proposal to your local government, outlining the arguments that suggest this is a problem, and suggest ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
   
   
   

3. “Introducing biometrics to identity cards and passports causes as many problems as it solves.” Discuss this statement with reference to the types of biometric data that may be used, and outline the dangers and benefits to our society. Write an essay.

Prof 1 Homework!

Remember, you should by now have written a post on a topic or issue that you feel strongly about for the link forum! You have one week left to do this. If you're not sure, write in either essay or article form, outlining the main points of the topic or issue you are talking about, saying why it is important to you, what your opinion and feelings about it are, and, if appropriate, why you think it should matter to other people. 300 - 350 words

Either email your post to me to check, or, if you feel confident enough, post it directly to the link forum, and let me know you have done it!

To be done by Sunday October 30

CAEX HOMEWORK

Composition, below, to be done by next Wednesday, October 26!

Write an answer to one of the questions below. Write your answer in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.

1 You see the following announcement in your college magazine.

You Are What You Care About

Some people say you can tell a lot about someone's personality from the things they care about. We would like to know what is important to our students! Write an article telling us about a topic or issue you care deeply about. Explain why it is important to you, and why you think it should be important to other people.

We will publish the best articles.

Write your article.

2. You see the following announcement in an airline magazine.

Good and Bad Role Models

Celebrities can have a big influence on young people, particularly nowadays, with so much international media coverage. Write to us and tell us which celebrity, in your opinion, is a good role model for young people, and who is a bad role model. Explain why you have chosen the two people you write about. The most interesting replies will win tickets for two to a destination of your choice. They will also be published in our in-flight magazine.

Write your competition entry.

Photos of Students at My Choice

Prof 4 students who went to My Choice last night - some of the photos I took are now up on our facebook page! If you want to be tagged and can't tag yourself, send me your FB id, and I'll try to tag you.

Enjoy the album! :)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.254467904599007.59864.138351786210620&type=1

Problems with writing by hand in the exam?

If you think you've got a problem because you have to do the written papers of the Cambridge exams in pen and pencil and write by hand, take a look at this BBC report on the problem faced by Chinese students.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15252102

I NEED YOUR EMAILS PLEASE!

Several people still haven't sent me their email address. This morning I wanted to send emails to two students, one about recommended reading, and another emailing the answers to a class activity. I couldn't send either, as I didn't have the emails of either of the students.

Please don't delay - send me your email address as soon as you read this if you haven't already done so! snowfinch@yahoo.com

CAEX - Music on the Brain

Anyone who found the text on music and the brain interesting (or anyone wh0's interested in this) might like to listen to one or both of these 'All in the Mind' programmes from Radio Australia's ABC Radio National.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemind/index/subjects_Music_2011.htm

The two programmes are:

The precipice of creativity: the improvising mind

16/07/2011
Whether it's choosing words to make up a sentence or walking along a crowded street, we're all capable of improvising. But musical improvisation fills us with amazement. How do musicians make the moment-by-moment decisions to create spontaneous music that's more than noise -- and what's going on in their brains to make it all happen?

Fear, brains and rock'n'roll: meet Joe LeDoux

02/04/2011
Rock star by night, neuroscientist by day—Joseph LeDoux's research has redefined our understanding of fear and emotion—and now the possibility of treating fearful memories. Natasha Mitchell visits his NYC studio to talk science, song, and his band, The Amygdaloids, where mind and brain take centre stage.

Prof 1 Saturday (am AND pm classes)

Following on from our class on Saturday, here are a few things to do and take note of.

First of all, the vocabulary book you should all have is English Vocabulary in Use Advanced by McCarthy and O'Dell (CUP). The units you need to look at over the next two or three weeks are:
Unit 52 – Internet and email; Unit 60 – Technology and its impact; Unit 61 – Future visions

Remember, the first progress test will include vocabulary from these units, so best get started as soon as possible!

The book we are going to read this term is 'Refugee Boy' by Benjamin Zephaniah. You can buy this locally if you can find it, or on sites such as amazon.co.uk or the book depository. You can also buy English Vocabulary in Use from these sellers. We will be doing work based on the book in upcoming classes, so again, do get it as soon as possible!

Remember to go to the link and see if there's something you want to comment on or post there. I posted a new 'Discussion Point of the Week' yesterday.

Over the next two or three weeks, I'll be asking you to look at the Open University module 'ICTs in Everyday Life'. If you'd like to get ahead with this, here's the link: http://bit.ly/rpLl5H

Next class we will listen to a short interview with Michio Kaku. Before next class, listen to this 20-minute programme where Michio Kaku is interviewed, and be prepared to comment on the programme in class:
http://bit.ly/CsVPu

Finally, but very importantly, send me an email identifying yourself so that I can contact you by email if I need to. My email is snowfinch@yahoo.com

I enjoyed meeting you all on Saturday. Look forward to seeing you next week!

- Mark