ALL - Happy holidays...

It's been good working with you all this semester - so thank you all. Semester one has now finished (and really flew by!), so we're just about half way through the year already! I've posted up some important information over the last few days, so please look through the posts carefully. I have been adding some handouts to my files of teaching materials too and will continue to do so.

Remember to keep your English on top form over the next few months (regular practice with joy and enthusiasm!) so that we necessarily start semester two with even better levels than at the end of semester one. Don't forget that as well as finding time to study, you also need some time to relax - and remember that you can even relax while practising your English because the two ideas are not incompatible - honest!

At one of the final Culture Call sessions of the semester we spoke about cooking and baking, and a couple of highly talented ladies brought in two thoroughly exquisite chocolate cakes (see the photo, above). - Thank you ever so much! They shared their recipes, and here is one of them, so that you can all have a try if you so wish...

INGREDIENTS
75g butter
75g cane sugar
3 egg yellows
3 egg whites, beaten
200g dark chocolate (melted in a bain-marie)
self-raising flour - as necessary
100g walnuts

INSTRUCTIONS
Soften the butter with the sugar. Add the egg yellows, melted chocolate, walnuts and the beaten egg whites. Finally add a little flour at a time until a thick mixture is created. Cook at 150°C.

...it was spectacular! Why not try it?!

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I hope you have a good holiday time, I wish you good luck with any exams you may have, happy studying, happy relaxing and see you in the new year!

ALL - corrected work at CLA

A quick message to let you know that I have now checked and corrected all written work handed in last week. I've left all work to be collected from the reception at CLA so that you can (and, if possible, should) collect it as soon as possible (and ideally before the next semester!). Remember that if you are going to CLA or the Faculty over the holiday period, check the opening times before you go in - their is a special holiday timetable at the moment.

Remember that earlier this week I also posted up some inter-semester work.

ALL - Office hours ('ricevimento')

Today's appointment (15.00 - 16.00) will be the final fixed session of semester one. You can still contact me via e-mail between the two semesters. There will be no set timetable for office hours between the two semesters, if you would like to come to speak with me in person then please send me an e-mail so that we can organise a suitable time.

Culture Call

Thank you to everyone who has participated in Culture Call this semester - it's been fun...and tasty too! Over the next few days I will try to upload the photos of your wonderful chocolate cakes, together with recipes (if my limited mobile-phone skills permit me to upload the photos!).

Thanks again, and I hope to see you, and many others, in semester two when Culture Call starts again.

Bye for now.

ALL - a quick reminder for ANY exams you may be doing in January/February

Please remember to check carefully which parts of which exams can (and can't) be taken and when. And please, please, please - whichever courses and exam subjects you have in January - do not forget to sign up in the correct way (and by the set dead-line) in order that you can do your exams.

Please do NOT try to do sections of exams that you cannot yet do - any such exams will not be valid.

For those of you who have any exams in January/February time - the best of luck!

B1a - inter-semester work

It’s been good working with you all this semester. We’ve done quite a lot, but there is still lots more to do in preparation for English I. Please remember that between semester one and semester two it is essential that you continue to practise and use your English. That means studying new things as well as revising what we’ve been doing so far, plus reading, listening, speaking, writing and doing practice exercises too.

Don’t stop practising or it will be harder to start again next semester, and your level will not remain the same. Remember – a language is something that needs cultivating with enthusiasm, attention, care and interest – like a sport, a musical instrument or a plant. Here are the main exercises which are to be done between the two semesters:

- Review what we’ve been doing so far this year (study and do related exercises).

- Review any other basic grammar that you should already know and which isn’t included in our grammar programme (e.g. comparatives/superlatives, a/an, etc.)

- Finish reading the grammar section on future tenses (Murphy – units 19.23) – we covered various points last week, but will be finishing this in January.

- Phrasal verbs in ‘English Grammar in Use’.

- Units 53, 54, 60, 64 & 99 in ‘English Grammar in Use’.

- Units 6, 7, 8, 26, 29, 30, 39-42 in ‘English Vocabulary in Use’.

- Do the past exam (reading and composition sections) ‘History of the Mystery’ (in ‘dispensa’).

- ‘The Word Dear Disappearing in E-Mails (exercises in ‘dispensa’) - and any other 'dispensa' activities.

- Continue reading the short stories – we’ve already looked at ‘The Landlady’ and ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ – the next one we will look at together (semester 2, module 1) is Ray Bradbury’s ‘The Pedestrian’.

- Write about your plans for the future - 150-200 words (do this after reviewing future tenses).

- Write about one of your favourite sports or hobbies – 150-200 words.

Have lots of fun – study lots, but relax too. Enjoy the holiday-time and good luck to those of you doing exams. Keep in touch (in English, of course – via e-mail or with comments on the blog) and please send me any work to be checked regularly - as you finish it, and not all in February.

Bye for now!

B2c - inter-semester work

It’s been good working with you all this semester - we’ve done quite a lot, but please remember (as I mentioned in class) that there is still definitely a lot of work to do to raise the level in preparation for being ready to do English II in May. By the time we start the second semester in February, there must be essential improvements both in language use in general (I really mustn’t be seeing so many ‘English I’-level grammar/spelling/syntax errors) and in dedication/regular study. We’ve done quite a lot this semester, but there is still lots more to do in preparation for English II – and we cannot do all of that in class, it needs to be done at home too.

Please remember, therefore, that between semester one and semester two it is essential that you continue to practise and use your English regularly and with dedication. That means studying new things as well as revising what we’ve been doing so far, plus reading, listening, speaking, writing and doing practice exercises too.

Don’t stop practising or it will be harder to start again next semester, and your level will deteriorate (rather than improve) in preparation for semester two. Remember – a language is something that needs constant cultivation with enthusiasm, attention, care and interest – like a sport, a musical instrument or a plant. Here are the main exercises which are to be done between the two semesters:

- Review what we’ve been doing so far this year (study and do related exercises).

- Review any other basic grammar that you should already know (see second year grammar programme in my file of teaching materials).

- Continue studying multi-word verbs (Unit 14 + see grammar programme / ‘dispensa’ for shorter list).

- Grammar book – units 12, 13, 18, 27.3, 30, 33

- Do the past exam reading and composition sections from January 2007 (see ‘dispensa’) and a past exam grammar test that you have not yet done.

- Continue reading the short stories – remember that you should read all the short stories and then prepare a certain number of them for the ‘accertamento orale’ (see course guide for further details).

- Write summaries of newspaper articles, also saying why you found them interesting (if you send them to me, please remember to send me the link to the original article too). Remember that this is also important exam preparation.

- Write about at least four of the eight themes (I’ve given you general topics rather than exam-style titles in order to give you a little more liberty, but please remember that academic writing guidelines apply):

- Sports

- A memory

- A topic/argument that you feel strongly about

- New technologies

- Society and television

- Multi-cultural society

- Transport

- Life in 2030

Have lots of fun – study, but relax too. Enjoy the holiday-time and good luck to those of you doing exams. Keep in touch (in English, of course – via e-mail or with comments on the blog) and please send me any work to be checked regularly - as you finish it, and not all in February.

Bye for now!

B2d - inter-semester tasks

It’s been good working with you all in the listening lab this semester. We’ve done quite a lot, but there is still lots more we can do in preparation for English II listening. Please remember that between semester one and semester two it is essential that you continue to practise and use your English. That means studying new things as well as revising what we’ve been doing so far, plus reading, listening, speaking, writing and doing practice exercises too.

Don’t stop practising or it will be harder to start again next semester, and your level will not remain the same. Remember – a language is something that needs cultivating with enthusiasm, attention, care and interest – like a sport, a musical instrument or a plant. Here are the main exercises which are to be done between the two semesters:

- Watch (and summarise) at least three more ‘Enjoy England – Hidden Gems’ videos on-line (see previous B2d posts for link).

- Listen to (and summarise) at least four news reports on the BBC World Service (free on the Internet – see link in side-bar).

- Do as many listening exercises as possible from ‘Breaking News English’ (see link in second year course guide – on-line teaching materials).

- Do any Cambridge FCE listening exams – books available at CLA.

- Try listening to/reading B2-level articles in the monthly magazine Speak Up (available at the newsagent’s). This is also a good possibility to practise your pronunciation by listening, repeating (and even recording yourself and then listening to your pronunciation).

- Practise listening through the links given in the second year course guide.

- Do any listening practice on the BBC Learning English website (see link in side-bar).

Have lots of fun – study lots, but relax too. Enjoy the holiday-time and good luck to those of you doing exams. Keep in touch (in English, of course – via e-mail or with comments on the blog) and please send me any work to be checked regularly - as you finish it, and not all in February.

Bye for now!

C1a - inter-semester work

It’s been good working with you all this semester. We’ve done quite a lot, but there is still lots more to do. Please remember that between semester one and semester two it is essential that you continue to practise and use your English. That means studying new things as well as revising what we’ve been doing so far, plus reading, listening, speaking, writing and doing practice exercises too.

Don’t stop practising or it will be harder to start again next semester, and it’s important that a good starting level remains strong. Remember – a language is something that needs cultivating with enthusiasm, attention, care and interest – like a sport, a musical instrument or a plant. Here are the main exercises which are to be done between the two semesters:

First-year students

- Review what we’ve been doing so far this year (study and do related exercises).

- Review any other basic grammar that is listed in the first year grammar programme (see ‘dispensa’ and look up any problem points in your C1a grammar book rather than in Murphy).

- Continue looking through phrasal verbs (‘multi-word verbs’).

- Grammar book – units 12, 13, 18, 27.3, 30, 33

- Do all sections of the January 2011 exam (see English I ‘dispensa’).

- Do any other exercises in English I ‘dispensa’.

- Continue reading the short stories – we’ve already looked at ‘The Landlady’ and ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ – the next one we will look at together (semester 2, module 1) is Ray Bradbury’s ‘The Pedestrian’.

- Write about at least four of the eight themes (I’ve given you general topics rather than exam-style titles in order to give you a little more liberty, but please remember that academic writing guidelines apply):

- Sports

- A memory

- A topic/argument that you feel strongly about

- New technologies

- Society and television

- Multi-cultural society

- Transport

- Life in 2030

Second-year students

- Review what we’ve been doing so far this year (study and do related exercises).

- Review any other basic grammar that you should already know (see second year grammar programme in my file of teaching materials).

- Continue studying multi-word verbs (Unit 14 + see grammar programme / ‘dispensa’ for shorter list).

- Grammar book – units 12, 13, 18, 27.3, 30, 33

- Do the past exam reading and composition sections from January 2007 (see ‘dispensa’) and a past exam grammar test that you have not yet done.

- Continue reading the short stories – remember that you should read all the short stories and then prepare a certain number of them for the ‘accertamento orale’ (see course guide for further details).

- Write summaries of newspaper articles, also saying why you found them interesting (if you send them to me, please remember to send me the link to the original article too). Remember that this is also important exam preparation.

- Write about at least four of the eight themes (I’ve given you general topics rather than exam-style titles in order to give you a little more liberty, but please remember that academic writing guidelines apply):

- Sports

- A memory

- A topic/argument that you feel strongly about

- New technologies

- Society and television

- Multi-cultural society

- Transport

- Life in 2030

Have lots of fun – study, but relax too. Enjoy the holiday-time and good luck to those of you doing exams. Keep in touch (in English, of course – via e-mail or with comments on the blog) and please send me any work to be checked regularly - as you finish it, and not all in February.

Bye for now!

ALL - short stories

Please remember that you should be reading another short story for week ten.

This time we will be looking at the following:

1st year students - Roald Dahl's 'Lamb to the Slaughter'

2nd year students - Helen Simpson's 'Dear George'

We will continue looking at a few more short stories throughout the year, but please remember that you should mainly be reading them all on your own, to study and prepare the necessary short stories for part of the 'accertamento orale'.

B2d - students who are 'non-frequentante'

A quick reminder to all students who cannot come to class - don't forget to contact me about the possibility of changing group and about ways or preparing for your final listening test.

B2d - Enjoy England - hidden gems videos

In class this week we watched this video from the 'Enjoy England' website - all about the Lake District.

In preparation for next week's lesson, please visit the 'Enjoy England' youtube page and choose another 'Hidden Gems' video - about any of the places you're interested in. Watch it and take a few notes. Prepare to tell someone else about it next week in class.

B2c - optional extra essay title

As promised last week, for those of you wishing to do an extra essay on globalisation (who do I hear shouting 'NO!'?!), here you go (it's a very clear and simple title, just to help!):

Discuss the positive and negative aspects of globalisation in today's society.

ALL - The language-learning spirit

Hello to you all! Just a quick post on a Saturday evening to let you know that I have added an important new page to the blog - 'The language-learning spirit' (you can find it in the right-hand side-bar, but you can also click here to read it).

Most of the points I have already mentioned in class, but read through it as a reminder.

Have a good weekend, see you next week!

B2d - BBC world service

A quick reminder for B2d students - don't forget to listen to the news on the BBC world service (link via BBC i-player in the right-hand side-bar). Having listened to the news, choose a story that you find interesting, listen to it a few times if possible, and be prepared to speak about it briefly in class.

In order for this activity to work well, it is important that everyone is prepared, so please don't forget.

...and remember, this is really important preparation for your final oral exam.

See you next week!

B2c - composition title

For students who were unable to copy down last week's composition title, based on the interview we read in class, here it is.

a) - Damien Hirst quite controversially said that, "an artist doesn't really need to create any more." Many "Young British Artists" seem to focus on being controversial as much as on creating great works of art. Which is the main role of an artist, or should both live side by side? (250 words)

You have until next Thursday (1st December) to hand this in.

See you on Thursday!

C1a - titles and a reminder about this Friday

A quick reminder for all C1a students - as previously mentioned, this Friday's lesson will be a little earlier than the usual time, from 13.40 to 15.40, usual room.

As promised, here are the two composition titles that I mentioned in class, as many of you didn't have time to write them down. Choose the one you prefer, and write aroudn 250 words. The deadline for handing these in is Friday, 2nd December.

a) - Damien Hirst quite controversially said that, "an artist doesn't really need to create any more." Many "Young British Artists" seem to focus on being controversial as much as on creating great works of art. Which is the main role of an artist, or should both live side by side?

b) - "Pink toys are turning girls into passive princesses" - is it correct to say that the choice of toys for boys and girls determines their future characters, or are toys simply objects which entertain children, with no influence in shaping the person that they will become?

Friday's debate was fun - try to put the same bright energies into the writing.

...and don't forget to bring jokes in English to Friday's lesson, the ones so far seem to have been much appreciated by everyone!

2nd YEAR - Newspaper terminology

A quick reminder that I have uploaded some handouts (relating to newspaper terminology / language of headlines, etc.) to my files of teaching materials on the faculty website - they should be quite useful for students following English II.

C1a - 04/11 and 25/11

A quick message regarding Friday lessons for C1a students. This Friday (4th November) and Friday 25th November we will have class a little earlier than usual. For these two dates only, we will have class from 13.40 to 15.40 in the usual room. I'll remind you of this when I see you tomorrow.

ALL - 31st October

As mentioned in class, just a quick copy and paste from the university website to remind you:

"Si ricorda che in ordine del Decreto Rettorale n. 321 del 6 agosto 2010 tutte le sedi universitarie resteranno chiuse il giorno 31 ottobre 2011."

...and don't forget to put your clocks back too!

Have a good long weekend, guys, see you in a few days.

C1a - past exams

Hi guys - this week we're looking at the reading comprehension section of your English exam.
1st year students - September 2009
2nd year students - May 2007

I recommend that you try to do both the reading comprehension and the composition. If you want me to check your work, please hand it in no later than:

Friday, week 4 - reading comprehension
Friday, week 5 -writing (composition)

B2c - past exam and newspaper articles

Hi guys - yesterday we started looking at the May 2007 past exam. It would be a good idea to try doing this exam at home - if you want me to have a look at your work then please let me have it no later than:

Friday, week 4 - for the reading comprehension
Friday, week 5 - for the writing (composition)

Please remember that for week 5 you must be prepared to speak about a newspaper article in class (in preparation for your English 2 oral exam).

Culture Call

We had our second Culture Call session today. Thanks to those who came - it was a fascinating discussion all about dreams (the kind that you have when you're asleep)... and I'm sure that after that we'll all be having crazy dreams tonight!

Those present decided that the topic for next week is 'the performing arts'... so music, dancing, acting, singing... start pondering, and see you next session!

ALL - 'dispensa' at copy shop

For those of you who are having trouble downloading the handouts ('dispensa') because you don't have a computer, please remember that you can also download these materials using a university computer and then print them at a copy shop.

As an alternative, please contact me for a list of copy shops that have a copy of my 'initial dispensa'.

B2c & C1a - verb tense exercise

The 'Space Centre' gap fill exercise that we worked on in class is now in my file of teaching materials for those of you who wish to download it.

Please remember that you need to bring your 'dispensa' to class next lesson.

See you soon!

Culture Call - Friday, 09.00

Hello to you all - our 'Culture Call' conversation group started last week and should be a weekly feature throughout the year. Come along to practise speaking English and to feel confident speaking English!

From this week onwards we will be meeting on Fridays at 09.00, room 3 at CLA - YOU guys decide what we will be speaking about, so start thinking about what interests you the most. I hope to see you on Friday - the more, the merrier!

B1a - Reading preparation for class

As I mentioned in class yesterday, in preparation for next week, please read the text 'Superstitious? Me?' which is a text from a past English I reading comprehension (September 2009). Please also read the questions, but do not answer them because we will work on them in class before answering them.

The text can be found in the final section of my English I 'dispensa' (in my teaching materials on the Faculty website).

B2c - Reading preparation for next lesson

As mentioned in class yesterday, please read the text from the May 2007 English II exam (reading comprehension) - 'The Heat is on - Global warming, it now seems, is for real'.

Read the questions too, but don't answer them - we will be looking at them together in class next week and speaking about the reading comprehension of the the 2nd year exam. The text can be found in my English II dispensa (my teaching materials on the Faculty website).

C1a - short stories

Next Friday (21st October) we will be working on short stories, a part of both first & second-year oral exam. For next Friday's lesson, please read the following short stories:

First year students:

Roald Dahl's 'The Landlady' (Link in dispensa). Next lesson I will also give you some useful vocabulary and questions relating to the story - read the questions and think about them for next Friday.

Second year students:

H.G.Wells' 'The Country of the Blind' (Please also read & consider the questions relating to the story).

ALL - course materials - a reminder

Hello to you all, it's been a good first two weeks back - good to see you all in class. A quick reminder - if you have not yet got all of your course materials (grammar book, short stories, 'dispensa') you absolutely must do so - this week we have already been working from them, and next week you'll need them even more. So, please, come to class prepared. If you're not sure which books you are meant to be using for your course, please check the 'vademecum'.

Have a good weekend!

ALL - first lesson course introduction summary slides

Just to let you know, I have posted a brief copy of my introductory course slides from lesson 1 to my teaching materials. Please be sure to read them if you weren't in class for our first lesson of the semester.

Culture Call

Culture Call - first session:

Friday 14th October - 11.00 a.m., CLA - room 6.

(Check here next week as the day, time and room could change)

Most of you will probably have heard me speak about the 'Culture Call' group. Maybe you already know the group, maybe it's new to you, so here's a little more information.

What is 'Culture Call'?

'Culture Call' is a group that will meet up to speak in English each week.

Speak about...what, precisely?

Well - that's up to you. I'll be there to add ideas if necessary, but I'd like you to propose interesting topics to speak about each week. Topics could include culture, society, current affairs, films, art, books, the environment ...more or less anything - it's up to you.

Who must come?

Nobody must come, but you can - it's not an obligatory part of your course (actually, it is not a part of your course at all) - but it'll be fun!

So can I come?

Yes, of course. The group is open to all English students of our language faculty, whatever level. We'll be mixing groups and trying to work with different people each time, so don't worry. Students are most welcome to join in, ...at least until all the chairs are taken!

Will I have to do written work for 'Culture Call'?

No, of course not! It's a conversation group and is in no way connected to your language courses and grades. In fact I will not accept written work to be checked in 'Culture Call'.

The only thing necessary to do at home is to think about what you'd like to speak about, and maybe read some articles about it in preparation (if you like).

Is there a cost?

Of course not, it's free.

Will it be fun?

Yes! We shall make it fun!

Will it help to prepare me for my exams?

This group is something to do in your free time - it is not connected to your courses, it's just an opportunity to speak more English. It will not prepare you for your exams, it isn't a part of your 'lettorato' - it's simply an opportunity to speak more English, to enjoy speaking English and to feel more confident at speaking English - which is no bad thing!

I can't go to 'lettorato' - can I come to 'Culture Call' instead?

No. 'Culture Call' is not a subsitute for 'lettorato' - in fact I will only accept students who regulary attend their 'lettorato' groups, whichever groups they may be in.

When/where will it be?

Ahhh, I knew you would eventually ask me the difficult question! ...As the timetable is still changing a little, keep checking here for further details. The group will begin on Friday of this week, with a weekly one-hour session. Next week we'll probably have a new day, time and place - so check here for futher details.

Shall I join in, then?

Yes! What are you waiting for?!

ALL - change to 'office hours' tomorrow

As my timetable will be changing next week, I'll now be having office hours at different times.

I'll still be at CLA staffroom, but at the following times...

Monday 15.00 - 16.00

&

Thursday 11.00 - 12.00

...some of you have already started to come to visit me - fabulous! I look forward to seeing more of you at CLA!

B2c and C1a - timetable change

A quick message to let you know that from next week our timetable will be changing slightly. Our Tuesday lessons have been moved to different days, times and rooms. Please keep checking the Faculty timetable with care.

As a result office hours will also be changing. More about that in another post.

ALL - timetable problems and overlaps

Several students have told me that they've been having problems with the timetable as they have two lessons at the same time. If you have any such problems, please contact dott.ssa Ferrara as soon as possible. If you e-mail her, please tell her which two lessons overlap and also try to tell her how many students have the same problem (obviously if lots of students have the same problem it is more probable that the times may be changed).

Remember to check the Faculty's timetable website frequently over the next few days, as times/rooms could change.

ALL - 1st & 2nd year grammar books / 2nd year short stories (2011-2012)

It was good to meet you today. I did promise that I would post up information about your reading lists.

Here is just a brief list, giving only the 1st & 2nd year grammar books & 2nd year short stories that we'll be using throughout the year. Detailed information about your course reading lists (including 'dispensa', extra materials, short stories for 1st year students etc.) will be given in class and in the 'vademecum'. Please check over the next few days for futher details.

Students who will not be attending class this year should e-mail me a.s.a.p. (as soon as possible!) for information regarding their studies.

Please look for your 'aula' group below (if any 1st year students are not yet sure whether to follow a 1st year B2 group or C1a, please do not buy your grammar books yet - C1a uses a different book).

B1a (1st year) grammar & vocabulary books:

Grammar: Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use, Third Edition (with answers), (CD-ROM pack optional), Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Extra grammar: Louise Hashemi with Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use Supplementary Exercises (with answers), Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Vocabulary: Stuart Redman, English Vocabulary in Use (pre-intermediate and intermediate), Cambridge University Press, 2003.

(A list of short stories to be read by first year students will be given in class, then posted on the blog. These stories will be available to read on-line.)

B2c (2nd year) grammar & short story books:

Grammar: Foley M., Hall D. (2003). Advanced Learners' Grammar, a self-study reference & practice book with answers. Pearson Education Ltd (Longman).

Short stories: AA.VV. (a cura di Henderson R. A.) (2003). 'Short Stories'. CIDEB Editrice, Genova.

C1a (1st year students) grammar books:

Grammar: Foley M., Hall D. (2003). Advanced Learners' Grammar, a self-study reference & practice book with answers. Pearson Education Ltd (Longman).

(a list of short stories to be read by first year students will be given shortly. These stories will be available to read on-line.)

C1a (2nd year students) grammar & short story books:

Grammar: Foley M., Hall D. (2003). Advanced Learners' Grammar, a self-study reference & practice book with answers. Pearson Education Ltd (Longman).

Short stories: AA.VV. (a cura di Henderson R. A.) (2003). 'Short Stories'. CIDEB Editrice, Genova.

ALL - change to 'office hours' tomorrow

There's been a change to the time I'll be available tomorrow. Anyone wishing to come to speak with me tomorrow can do so from 12.30 to 13.30 - in the Faculty library (and not in the staffroom at CLA). The time should stay the same in the coming weeks (but do check the blog before coming to speak with me) but in future I should be returning to CLA staffroom.

Welcome (back)!

Hello to you all! "Welcome back" to those of you returning to Urbino, and "Welcome" to the new students joining us this year. It's Friday afternoon and the new semester starts next week. I hope it's been a good summer for all of you (lots of work, lots of play). The summer has really flown by, and it's just about time to start again. Where did July, August and September get to? Can it really be autumn already?!

...Ready to go! Batteries fully charged! Happy to be back! (...I am!)

I look forward to seeing you all next week, ready for a bright and energetic year of hard work and fun!

Students moving from 1st year to 2nd year English 'lettorato' (LOC)

In 2nd year LOC, the English 'lettorato' groups are: B2c, B2d & C1a. For students moving from 1st year to 2nd year English 'lettorato' (LOC), our suggestion regarding which group to follow is:

GROUPS

2ND YEAR B2c - Students who scored 21 and below on the WRITING section of the English I exam;

2ND YEAR B2d - Students who scored 22 to 25 on the WRITING section of the English I exam;

2ND YEAR C1a - Students who were already in the C1a group last year and students who scored 26 and above on the WRITING section of the English I exam.

When the semeseter starts, students who find their group too easy or difficult should speak with their teacher about changing groups.

Please remember that each of the above groups has two members of staff (one for class and another for lab). It is important that you remember this when you check the timetable.

1st & 2nd year - written exam results

A quick message to let you all know that the results of the September written exams should be available as of today. Check the Faculty website for more details.

Details regarding 'visione del compito' (any students) and 'rifiuto del voto' (LOC) are written above the grades.

Bye for now.

ALL - signing up for exams

Hello to you all! I hope that the summer is going well for you and that you might be managing to mix fun, relaxation and English together!

A quick message for those of you intending to take any exams in the upcoming session (before the start of the new semester) - please DO NOT FORGET to sign up for your exams before the deadlines. Check Faculty information for further details.

Enjoy the rest of the summer, and I look forward to seeing you all soon. Bye for now!

'Office hours' - change of timetable

My office hours for 5th July have been cancelled due to exams. Office hours for 12th July remain unchanged. After that it will be necessary to fix an appointment with me (via e-mail).

Office hours (ricevimento)

My office hours tomorrow will be slighly shorter than originally planned because of a meeting.

I'll be available tomorrow at CLA from 10.00 to 10.50.

1st year written exam results...

...are now available on the Faculty website and in the Faculty!

1st year results soon available....

...a quick message to inform students that the results of LOC Year 1 English should be published tomorrow (Tuesday).

I'll write a new post to confirm when they are available.

2ND YEAR - Written exam results

Just a quick message for second year students who took the English 2 written exam in May, to let you know that the results are now available in the Faculty building and on the Faculty website.

'Office hours' - time change next week

Due to a meeting I have to attend next week, I'm afraid that I have to change my office hours for Tuesday 14th June. The new time is 08.30 - 09.30 - CLA staffroom.

B2d - a little exam advice

So, the exams are nearly here, and as promised, here is a little advice (much of which is common sense) in preparation...

Before the exam

- Prepare well, but then ...sleep well before the exam - go to bed early to 'charge your battieries'!

- Eat well - have a good breakfast (it sounds crazy, and I may risk sounding like a parent, but...) ...food gives you energy, and energy is what you need!

- For the same reason eating a bar of chocolate before your exam can often give you a good, quick energy input (don't eat too many bars or you'll feel sick!).

- Take your correction fluid out of your pencil case, so you don't risk using it by mistake.

- Remember, black or blue pen, 'libretto', etc.

At the exam

- Breathe, relax - you have prepared for this, you've tried past papers, so feel courageous.

- Keep an eye on the time.

- Remember to write your name, student number etc. on all the necessary papers.

- Remember to write your final answers in blue or black pen only - and DO NOT USE correction fluid.

- Use normal letters and avoid 'block capitals'.

- Don't forget to read the general instructions and the instructions of each exercise with care (it's so easy - and unfortunate - to lose points just because you didn't read the instructions carefully).

- Before the first listening, when you can look at the questions, read them carefully. What can you expect to hear? The questions help you to anticipate what you might here. What are the key words and the key ideas?

- When you're listening do not try to take notes using complete sentences - there isn't time. Remember, as we've said in class, if you try to take notes using complete sentences, you will probably be so busy writing notes for question 1 that you don't have time to listen to the information that you need for question 2. You should simply take notes while listening. Note the key words, use your own symbols and abbreviations to help you if you like.

- Between the first and second listening try to expand on the notes you've taken to prepare your answers and think of what you need to listen to in the second listening.

- After the second listening write your answers quickly and clearly.

After the exam

- Treat yourself - an icecream (if you didn't eat too much chocolate before the exam) or something nice, you deserve it.

B1a, B2c, C1a - exam advice

So, the exams are nearly here, and as promised, here is a little advice (much of which is common sense) in preparation...

Before the exam

- Prepare well, but then ...sleep well before the exam - go to bed early to 'charge your battieries'!

- Eat well - have a good breakfast (it sounds crazy, and I may risk sounding like a parent, but...) ...food gives you energy, and energy is what you need!

- For the same reason eating a bar of chocolate before your exam can often give you a good, quick energy input (don't eat too many bars or you'll feel sick!).

- Take your correction fluid out of your pencil case, so you don't risk using it by mistake.

- Remember, black or blue pen, dictionaries (2nd years), 'libretto', etc.

At the exam

- Breathe, relax - you have prepared for this, you've tried past papers, so feel courageous.

- Keep an eye on the time - organise your work for the amount of time you have.

- Remember to write your name, student number etc. on all the necessary papers.

- Remember to write your final answers in blue or black pen only - and DO NOT USE correction fluid.

- Use normal letters and avoid 'block capitals'.

- Don't forget to read the general instructions and the instructions of each exercise with care (it's so easy - and unfortunate - to lose points just because you didn't read the instructions carefully).

- Read the questions carefully. In the reading comprehension and the composition be sure that you answer the actual question (and not what you'd like the question to be).

- Before you write your composition, think about what you want to say. What does the question ask you? What are you going to write? Plan briefly before you write then check that you follow your plan as you are writing.

- Divide your composition into logical paragraphs.

- INDENT your paragraphs (I will never tire of saying this).

- In the grammar test, try not to leave blank spaces. Try to answer all questions - often it can be a good idea to do the questions you find easiest first. Don't spend a long, long time trying to answer one small grammar question when you could dedicate that time to answering the other easier grammar questions first.

- Aim to leave yourself enough time to look through your work and look for possible errors (check especially for your own 'common mistakes' - they're different for everyone).

After the exam

- Treat yourself - an icecream (if you didn't eat too much chocolate before the exam) or something nice, you deserve it.

Culture Call

Thanks to all students who joined in with our experimental conversation group 'Culture Call' this semester. It was a pleasure to work (chat) with you all. Now that the semester has ended 'Culture Call' will be' going on holiday' for the summer – but will return in the Autumn for a new semester, and lots to talk about. Have a good summer, and continue speaking English!

B1a - weekly update

This week we did various types of exam preparation including exam-style grammar exercises to examine and to review numerous grammar points, as well as looking at our final few new grammar points.

Remember to look through the grammar programme again, and review it. We've looked at many points (the most difficult) in class, but as we've said throughout the year, you need to look at the smaller points too – including, among other points, all units on phrasal verbs, and structures/verbs + VERBing/ + TO VERB.

Remember that although our lessons have now ended, I'm still available via e-mail, or during office hours for information regarding our course and the things you have to study. You can still send me your work to be checked too, so I would advise you to do that as well.

Keep chatting in English, prepare your short stories, read, listen, write, sing songs in English too - why not? It's all good practice! Keep your English firmly active - not just in preparation for your exams, but over the summer period until classes start again next semester.

Don't forget to sign up for all your exams on the Faculty website – well before the deadline (see previous post for more details).

I'll be posting up some general advice about your exams at the start of next week, so please check the blog on Monday or Tuesday.

Good luck with your exams, and see you soon!

B2c - weekly update

This week we did various types of exam preparation including exam-style grammar exercises to examine and to review numerous grammar points. If anyone would like to do the extra modal verb exercises or direct/indirect speech exercises that I mentioned, just send me an e-mail and I'll send them on to you. If anyone else would like to send me the review exercises (from the blog) that you did at home, feel free to do so – I'll check them and send them back to you A.S.A.P. (as soon as possible).

Remember to look through the grammar programme again, and review it. We've looked at many points (the most testing) in class, but as we've said throughout the year, you need to look at the smaller points too.

Keep chatting in English, prepare your short stories, read, listen, write, sing songs in English too - why not? It's all good practice! Keep your English firmly active - not just in preparation for your exams, but over the summer period until classes start again next semester.

Remember that although our lessons have now ended, I'm still available via e-mail, or during office hours for information regarding our course and the things you have to study. You can still send me your work to be checked too, so I would advise you to do that as well.

Don't forget to sign up for all your exams on the Faculty website – well before the deadline (see previous post for more details).

I'll be posting up some general advice about your exams at the start of next week, so please check the blog on Monday or Tuesday.

Good luck with your exams, and see you soon!

B2d - weekly update

This week we did various types of exam-style exercises in the lab. In preparation for the listening exam continue listening to all the English you can – both listening in a concentrated way, but also listening to English as 'background noise' while doing other things – it helps, and your brain is still taking it in, even though you're not necessarily concentrating on it. As we've mentioned various times, other things you can do to practise your listening at CLA include past exam tests and the First Certificate books (it's B2 level) which are at CLA. You can also listen to the monthly CD that comes with the magazines Speak Up or English 24.

Keep chatting in English, prepare your short stories, read, listen, write, sing songs in English too - why not? It's all good practice! Keep your English firmly active - not just in preparation for your exams, but over the summer period until classes start again next semester.

As promised, I left the exercises you did in class last week at the CLA secretary's office – please collect your work and look through it.

Remember that although our lessons have now ended, I'm still available via e-mail, or during office hours for information regarding our course and the things you have to study.

Don't forget to sign up for all your exams on the Faculty website – well before the deadline (see previous post for more details).

I'll be posting up some general advice about your exams at the start of next week, so please check the blog on Monday or Tuesday.

Good luck with your exams, and see you soon!

C1a - weekly update

This week we did various types of exam preparation including exam-style grammar exercises to examine and to review numerous grammar points. If anyone would like to do the extra modal verb exercises or direct/indirect speech exercises that I mentioned, just send me an e-mail and I'll send them on to you.

Remember to look through the grammar programme again, and review it. We've looked at various points (the most testing) in class, but as we've said throughout the year, you need to look at the smaller points too.

Keep chatting in English, prepare your short stories, read, listen, write, sing songs in English too - why not? It's all good practice! Keep your English firmly active - not just in preparation for your exams, but over the summer period until classes start again next semester.

Remember that although our lessons have now ended, I'm still available via e-mail, or during office hours for information regarding our course and the things you have to study. You can still send me your work to be checked too, so I would advise you to do that as well.

Don't forget to sign up for all your exams on the Faculty website – well before the deadline (see previous post for more details).

I'll be posting up some general advice about your exams at the start of next week, so please check the blog on Monday or Tuesday.

Good luck with your exams, and see you soon!

ALL - Exams

It's been a pleasure to work with you all this year. As the final week of semester two is almost over, it's time to remind you about signing up for exams ("You already told us lots of times in class!" I hear you say!) ...but, please do not forget to sign up for your exams on-line on the Faculty website before the deadlines (more information on the Faculty website). If you do not sign up before the deadline, you cannot do the exam - it's Faculty rules. So don't wait until the last moment and risk computer problems or forgetting. Do it A.S.A.P. (as soon as possible)!

- Remember that you should sign up on one page for the written exam and sign up on another page for the oral exam.

- Don't forget that when you sign up for the written exam you should check the dates of the exams (dates plural, because you have your listening test on one date and the reading/comprehension/composition test another day).

- When you sign up for the oral exam, please remember to write which parts of the exam you will be doing - this helps us lots.

- Remember to bring your blue 'libretto' to exams with you.

- Do NOT bring correction fluid to the exams because you cannot use it - if you bring it, you may use it by mistake, so it's safer to leave it at home. Remember that all final answers must be in blue or black pen on the correct paper.

- If you are allowed to use dictionaries, don't forget to bring them. If you aren't allowed to use them, don't bring them.

If you would like information about my courses/classes in general, please do contact me. Even when class has finished you can continue to contact me both via e-mail and at office hours (the summer timetable is now available on this blog).

If you would like general information about exams, please contact the course Tutors - click here to go directly to their page on the Faculty website for further information about who can help and when.

Study lots! Sleep well! Eat well! Relax well between the studying! Contact me if you need any clarifications, and I look forward to seeing you all at some point soon.

ALL - Summer office hours ('ricevimento')

From the end of semester two, my office hours will have a different timetable.

I will have office hours at CLA (staffroom) at the following times during the summer:

Thursday 19th May - 13.00 - 14.00

Monday 23rd May - 14.00 - 15.30

Tuesday 14th June - ** TIMETABLE CHANGE ** 08.30 - 09.30

Wednesday 22nd June - 10.00 - 11.30

Tuesday 28th June - 10.00 - 11.30

Tueday 5th July - 11.00 - 11.30

Tuesday 12th July - 10.00 -11.30

2nd half of July & 1st half of August - on an appointment basis (please contact me via e-mail to make an appointment).

2nd half of August - no 'office hours'

Please check the blog before coming to see me during summer office hours as any last-minute changes to the timetable will be written here.

C1a / B2c - extra exercises

A quick extra hello this week. Here are some of the exercises that I mentioned in class (B2c and C1a) today. (Click the link to access the PDFs).

Eurovision song contest verb gap-fill.

Inversion exercises.

'Harvesting Energy' reading comprehension questions.

B1a - weekly update

This week we've been looking at the the mock grammar test that you did in class and analysing the correct/incorrect answers. We also worked on units 25 and 41 in your grammar books and did some revision exercises.

Next week we'll be working on the final grammar point that we'll be looking at in class – unit 45. Please read it in advance in preparation. Please also read the exercise in your dispensa about the word 'dear' disappearing from emails (and do the gap fill and synonym match exercises).

Have a good weekend and see you next week.

B2c - weekly update

This week we've been working on revision exercises for various parts of the exam in class. We also had a look at the section in your books on coordination and subordination, do/make, etc.

Next week we'll be reviewing the reading paper and various points that you requested, including inversions, past tenses, passives, phrasals, conditionals etc.

Here is a link to some revision exercises, please download it, do it and bring it to class next Tuesday so that we can check it together. Please also read (and bring to class) the BBC article in our dispensa on 'Harvesting Body Heat'.

Please send me any further work by email from now on, as next week will be our final week in class for this semester. Next week I'll be posting up my summer 'office hours'.

Have a good weekend and see you next week.

B2d - weekly update

This week we were working on exam-style questions based on videos online. If anyone would like the links and the questions, please email me. Remember that as we said in class, it's important that you try to abbreviate when taking notes during the listening exercises, and that you also practise writing within the time limits that you'll have to copy up your answers in the written exam, in preparation for copying your notes to your final answer paper in time.

Next week will be our final class for this semester, so if you have any questions to ask, please prepare them in advance.

Next week I'll be posting up my summer 'office hours'.

Have a good weekend and see you next week.

C1a - weekly update

This week we've been working on revision exercises for various parts of the exam in class. We also had a look at the use of articles (as this is something that is still creating a few problems in some cases). We also looked at the 'harvesting energy' article from the 2^nd year 'dispensa' and did some work on that. Here is a link to some comprehension questions regarding the same article. Please send me this and any other work by email from now on, as next week will be our final week in class for this semester.

Next week we'll be reviewing various points that you requested, starting with inversions next Monday. Next week I'll be posting up my summer 'office hours'.

Here is a link to some revision exercises, please download it, try to do it and bring it to class.

Have a good weekend, see you next week.

Culture Call

Next week is the final 'Culture Call' session of the semester. Thanks to all of you who have been coming to the group for your input and ideas during our Thursday afternoon meetings. Next week's theme, as chosen by the group last Thursday, is ...'Happiness'! A great choice for the final theme of the year. See you on Thursyday – everyone welcome, newcomers included.

C1a - Gap-fill handout

As promised, for those who would like the gap-fill exercises that we used in class this afternoon, please click this link.

See you soon.

B2c - gap-fill handout and verb tense list

The gap-fill exercises that we began working on in class today are available by clicking on this link. Please remember that for Thursday, in preparation for a brief review of passives, you should be preparing the verbs mentioned in class in the following tenses (active form, not passive):

- present simple

- present continuous

- past simple

- past continuous

- present perfect simple

- present perfect continuous

- past perfect simple

- past perfect continuous

- used to

- conditional ('would')

- future with 'going to'

- future with 'will'

- future perfect simple

- future perfect continuous

- with the modal 'can'

- with 'have to'

See you on Thursday!

B1a - weekly update

Here are some of the main points from this week. We did a mock test of the 1^st year grammar section of the written exam (we'll be looking through the results next Tuesday). We also did some gap-fill exercises from the dispensa (Facebook prize). On Thursday we spoke about the short stories (in particular 'Man from the South' and 'The Landlady'), worked on question tags, did some general conversation and worked on a past exam gap-fill exercise from the dispensa, analysing how to choose well when filling in the gaps.

As I mentioned in class, as the semester is drawing to a close I'm assigning you less work to do at home, in order to give you more time to dedicate to revising, reviewing and looking at any points of the programme that you still need to study. Also use this time to continue reading your short stories in preparation for the oral exam and to continue doing past exam papers (as ever, I'm very happy to check through such work if you bring it to me). Please remember that if there are any difficulties or uncertainties while you're preparing for the exams, as always - come to speak with me as soon as possible.

Next week please bring short stories, grammar books and 'dispensa' to class.

Please remember that if there are any difficulties or uncertainties while you're preparing for the exams, as always - come to speak with me as soon as possible.

B2c - weekly update

Here are the main points from class this week. We worked on the 'Daydreaming' article from the dispensa, with questions similar of a similar type to some that are often found on the comprehension part of the written exam. We also looked at various principles for ordering information at unit 36 of the grammar book. Please finish this unit at home. On Thursday we worked on some sentence transformation exercises from a past exam in the dispensa, as this seems to be one of the exercises creating most difficulty on the grammar paper. Finally, we did some work on 'multi-word verbs' (phrasals) working on the list of phrasal verbs that I posted up a couple of weeks ago (the ones to be studied as part of the 2^nd year exam).

Remember that I asked students to prepare their own sentences using the multi-word verbs on the 2^nd year list – just to practise them a little. If you do this, feel free to e-mail them to me so that I can check them.

As I mentioned in class, as the semester is drawing to a close I'm assigning you less work to do at home, in order to give you more time to dedicate to revising, reviewing and looking at any points of the programme that you still need to study. Also use this time to continue reading your short stories in preparation for the oral exam and to continue doing past exam papers (as ever, I'm very happy to check through such work if you bring it to me). Please remember that if there are any difficulties or uncertainties while you're preparing for the exams, as always - come to speak with me as soon as possible.

Next week please bring short stories, grammar books, phrasal verb list and 'dispensa' to class.

B2d - weekly update

This week the main theme was art, and we worked on various videos relating to Rothko (by the Tate Modern), the real Mona Lisa (by the BBC) and landscape painting (by the National Gallery).

If anyone would like the links to the videos as well as the questions, send me an email and I'll send them on to you.

C1a - weekly update

Here are some of the main points from this week. We looked at some advanced points from unit 22 (comparisons), multi-word verbs (u.14), worked on some exam-type exercises (grammar test) as well as speaking about the short stories that you've been reading and speaking a little about that much talked of event...the royal wedding.

When working on the' multi-word verbs' (phrasals) we we referring to the list of phrasal verbs that I posted up a couple of weeks ago (the ones to be studied as part of the 2^nd year exam).

As I mentioned in class, as the semester is drawing to a close I'm assigning you less work to do at home, in order to give you more time to dedicate to revising, reviewing and looking at any points of the programme that you still need to study. Also use this time to continue reading your short stories in preparation for the oral exam and to continue doing past exam papers (as ever, I'm very happy to check through such work if you bring it to me).

Please remember that if there are any difficulties or uncertainties while you're preparing for the exams, as always - come to speak with me as soon as possible.

Next week please bring short stories, grammar books, phrasal verb list and 'dispensa' to class.

I promised I would prepare an essay title which could put to practise your advanced comparisons, so here it is (before doing the essay you need to read the article 'Paris-on-Thames' from the 'dispensa'):

"The grass is always greener on the other side" is a common English saying. Although Paris may seem attractive to the British, the article shows that in reality many people from Paris are choosing to live in London. Having read the article, what are some of the factors attracting the French to London? In your opinion could Londoners be attracted by aspects of life in Paris?"

Culture Call

The next Culture Call session will be next Thursday (CLA room 1, 12.00 – 13.00) - the more, the merrier as we say in England! Those present at last Thursday's session decided on the theme of the fight against terrorism, the mafia and racism as themes for the next session – start thinking about your opinions in preparation for next week; I'm looking forward to seeing you!