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!

B1a / C1a - Room change - another reminder

Hello to you all, a quick reminder that tomorrow's lessons (3rd May) with B1a and c1a will be in a different building to usual.

For tomorrow only, lessons will be in the Faculty of Economics (in 'aula rossa).

Group B1a - please remember that I may arrive a little later than usual as I have lessons in CLA that finish at the same time as our lesson starts. Please remember that we will be doing a mock grammar test in class tomorrow.

See you tomorrow!