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.