LOOKING FOR LOVE?

So you may be hoping that you'll be on the receiving end of a little love this coming Sunday. Valentine's Day is a day of joy for those who do get something and a day of sadness for those who don't, but were expecting it! Most of us recognise that in reality it's a  Hallmark holiday (it is the second most popular for sending cards after Christmas) and it is true that most do not know the origins of the day.

Who was Saint Valentine?
There are three saints in the Catholic church who go by the name Valentine. One was a priest during the reign of the Emperor Claudius II, who married young lovers in secret, although the the Emperor had ruled that soldiers should remain unmarried. He was decapitated for this. Another was supposed to have freed prisoners from Roman prisons and the last is claimed to have fallen in love with the prison guard's daughter.

No saint at all?
There are even suggestions that the origins lie with the pagan festival of Lupercalia, an ancient Roman fertility festival, which was held on the 15th of February and supposed to bring fertility and a good harvest to all those who were blessed during this celebration.

Give a little love!
Write a poem telling the world, or at least your love, how you feel - be brave! Bare your heart! Here's how:

• Think of all the reasons why you love this person.
• Choose your favourites and write them down.
• Use similes and metaphor.
• Avoid 'very' and adverbs - use strong adjectives and verbs instead.
• Order your ideas in way that sounds great when you read it aloud - your poem doesn't have to rhyme.
• Write an acronym using you lover's name or the words LOVE or ROMANCE, or something just for you.

A little love goes a long way!
The saying goes that 'To give, is to receive.' so why not show your love this year! Don't just think about romantic love. How about showing your friends or your family how much you appreciate them? Give a little love to an elderly relative or neighbour who may live alone.

More importantly, remember Valentine's Day is only one of 365other days; you have to love your love the other 364 days of the year as well! (+1 this year as it's a leap year!)

Sources: Wikipedia,Wikihow,The History Channel

Playing Up! Acting Out!

Bored? Hate English because it's an endless stream of exercises and learning vocabulary? I know kids who feel just like this, but it doesn't have to be this way!

Image courtesy of scottchan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Drama is something which can make your learning come alive and you can use it with or without a teacher, in or out of class, and it will help you gets to grips with speaking the language. I remember that actually speaking, which when it comes down to is the reason most of us learn a second language, was the hardest part. I felt like I was lying, in some strange way. So make it fake. Invent a scenario and find the language for it. Just as you think through what you would say in a difficult situation in your own language, do the same in English.

In the classroom, drama has the benefit of giving weaker students the opportunity to speak with confidence - they can rehearse their lines. Those who are (hyper) active can get up and move around. If the students write their own script then there's communication and writing involved. Giving and receiving instructions are also necessary, so many skills are put to good use!

You can also use drama to introduce and discuss a theme. It doesn't have to be Shakespeare, far from it, just get an issue out there for discussion. Last week, one of my colleagues was absent and at short notice I had to teach her class. By mistake I'd left my emergency bag of tricks at home. Armed with no more than a CD from my car for inspiration (I had been listening to Monica Richard's 'A Good Thing'.) we had a very successful lesson on bullying.

We discussed the problem: What makes people bully others? How do the victims feel? What should we do if we see someone being bullied? Then we assigned roles and wrote a script up on the board. If your class is big and your play is small split into groups and do the sketch a couple of times. Or if it's small, take it in turns reading different roles.

Our basic idea was a bullying situation that was resolved with the intervention of a teacher (thus not fighting violence with violence). Also, that the bully realise the error of his/her ways.
Scene 1: The bully in action.
Scene 2: Friends/passers-by intervene.
Scene 3: Teacher is called and punishment is given.
Extra if time:
Scene 4: Bully needs help with whatever it was he was bullying the victim for.
Scene 5: Victim is the only person who can provide the help needed.

Not only did the students speak English, but everone also had fun!

Don't forget that Role Play is an integral part of most oral examinations (part 4 of the PTE General, all of the ECPE, part 3 of FCE and ECCE spring to mind) so dramatise everyday situations! See the Role Play Dialogues to the right of this post for more ideas!

Don't play up - act it out!
 

Talking Turkey!

Turkey phrases and expressions!

Thanksgiving falls on the 26th of November this year, in the United States. It is always the fourth Thursday in November and the food of choice is a turkey. So I thought it would be a good idea to talk turkey about turkey idioms and expressions in relation to the events that take place for this celebration.

I sincerely hope you are not as poor as Job's turkey or doing cold turkey, if the latter then perhaps you ought to see a couch turkey in relation to your problem. To avoid spending the holiday with jive turkeys it is good advice to hire a turkey bacon to keep them away from your House. For those of you watching that all-important ball game, I hope it's not a turkey shoot for your favourite team; if you've placed a bet on them and it is, that would be like turkeys voting for Christmas.

Match the expressions to their meanings:

1 accept a difficult situation
2 psychiatrist/therapist
3 policemen/security officers
4 easily lost (or won) situation
5 suddenly stop doing something addictive e.g. give up smoking
6 speak bluntly/ honestly; to talk business
7 have no money
8 stupid/ignorant people

You will find the answers here
Printable Version

Q: What is an acrostic?

A. A means of learning new words?
B. A poem?
C. A means of remembering how to spell difficult words?
D. A type of crossword?

If you answered all of the above then you got the right answer! The word acrostic comes from two Greek words ἄκρος (akros) meaning highest and στίχος (styhos) meaning verse.

You have probably filled in puzzles in languages lessons which are acrostic; you know the ones that when you have all the right answers a word or phrase is spelled out.

It's a great way to remember the spelling of difficult words. Think of something humorous!

People
Eat
Omelettes
People
Like
Eggs

(This came from the Jolly Phonics books)

I think this is a super way to remember vocabulary for a theme too.

Endangered species
Narwhals
Vegetation depletion
Icecaps melting
Recycling
Ozone layer/hole
Non-toxic materials
Make a difference
Energy alternatives
Natural resources
Tropical rainforests

If you fancy stretching your writing skills why not be adventurous and make up a poem on a theme? Start with a word and then write the lines of the poem along that theme but don't forget, the first (or last etc.) letter must be the next letter in the word you have chosen. It might take a while to do and be frustrating at first. Search in a dictionary or a thesaurus for words that suit your needs. I'd love to see anything you have written. Why not post it in the comments below?

Here's one I rustled up for, well, I let you guess! (Clue: An autumn celebration.)

High in the mountains,
A lone wolf barks.
Low in the valley,
Lanterns light up the dark.
Over in the dale,
Where the witches pass,
Evening becomes night and
Enchantments are cast.
No danger will they know, where the pumpkin heads glow.

(Copyright N.O.A. Rawle 2015 All rights reserved)

Have a happy one! ;)

EFL e-reader reviewed: Against the Night + How to write a book review.

When I say "Let's write something today." most reactions are negative. Writing in a foreign language is the hardest thing to do as it requires so many skills: reading the task properly, vocabulary suitable for the topic, good grammar & spelling, and most of all, planning.

I had a surprising response last term to a request I made of my Proficiency students. For their holiday homework I suggested they read a book or watch a film and write a review. With nothing but a skeleton plan and a few hints and tips I left them to it. I didn't even put limits on word count so there was total freedom in the task. The reviews I got back were enthusiastically written, there was the odd Instance of Internet pilfering but plagiarism is a crime easily spotted by using Turnitin!

Below you will find a similar skeleton plan to the one I gave my students and a sample review to illustrate how to put it into practice! Why don't you give it a go? Remember reviews are real writing that you can post on the Internet on sites such as Amazon or Goodreads and get feedback from your work.

You already know, if you read my stories, that I have a penchant for spooky, weird fiction (better known as Speculative Fiction as the writer speculates on a certain situation or the future). Generally speaking, I read this genre writing too. With that in mind, I went searching for an affordable spec.fic. graded reader (a book written or abridged to make it suitable for specific learning levels) to use in this blog post and, low and behold, I found the perfect candidate in Against the Night from Hippo Books. 

 

THE SKELETON:

• 1. Title, author/editor/contributors, publisher, edition, type of work. You may add other important information here too.
• 2. Summary of the story without spoilers (giving the end away). If you tell the whole story in the summary there will be no reason for the potential reader to open the book!
• 3. What you thought of the characters/story-telling/stories both good and bad. (This could be 2 or more separate paragraphs.) This is where your vocabulary really comes to the fore. Give reasons for your point of view and use expressive vocabulary.
• 4. Recommendation. Here you can give details of the audience the book is/should be aimed at, the price and availability.

NOTE: It might seem a bit more than obvious to state this, but you do have to have read the book you are reviewing so that you can provide some details about it in the review! I advise you to jot down a few things that you like/dislike as you read to save going back through the book searching for the bit you remember but may not be able to find again. (If you are reading an e-book you can do this automatically on the text using the features of your e-reader.)

THE REVIEW:

 

AGAINST THE NIGHT

 

Ghost story anthology Against the Night, written by Patrick Kennedy, Cooper Baltis and Danny Weiss, is published by Hippo Books. The collection includes six spooky and traumatic tales written specifically for students from upper-intermediate level (CEFR B2+) and beyond.

 

The anthology opens with Floating Girls by Cooper Baltis. Set in Idaho, it is the chilling tale of two ghost hunters' encounters with the other side. Messages by Patrick Kennedy, transports the reader to Mexico City to solve a murder mystery. Gone by Danny Weiss investigates strange disappearances in Boston. Sixteen Years by Patrick Kennedy looks at the lives of three school friends and how they have changed over sixteen years of course! Danny Weiss's Mr. Clean is a blood curdling urban legend and in the last story, Mechanical Turk, Cooper Baltis explores the haunting world of antique collecting in a tale reminiscent of traditional horror.

 

All the stories are written in short parts and chapters so not only is Against the Night a versatile class reader that can be adapted to short lesson times, perhaps as an end of the lesson read, it is also suitable for home study for learners who have limited reading time or short attention spans. The stories are gripping and compelling, although Gone was a little confusing as there are a host of characters to keep track of. The stories take the reader across Europe and America, meeting a multicultural blend of characters without falling into stereotype traps. Such a chilling read is it that your blood will run cold but that's to be expected from an anthology of ghost stories! The recommended age range is 8-18 but some of the content such as over consumption of alcohol, may not be considered appropriate for primary ages. The overuse of dull adjectives (big) was a little grating and not to be expected of an Upper Intermediate level reader however, the majority of the vocabulary was varied enough to be educational. The e-book was missing a Contents list so I could not jump straight to the story I wanted to read first.

 

All in all, Against the Night is a thrilling introduction to ghost stories! Recommended to students of High school age and up the e-book is easily affordable at 2.99.

 

This review is also on Amazon, where I bought the book, and on Goodreads. Remember you can do this too - don't think that reviewing has to be just for your teacher, you can post your reviews on these two sites easily and many others as well.



 

When it comes to 'The Crunch', are you prepared?

As you know, I live and work in Greece which, just in case you have been living under a stone, is going through a crisis at the moment. The government has been given the final countdown by Europe to play their game or get out. Having seen what happened when Cyprus wouldn't play by the rules and with the images of Argentina's bankruptcy still in mind, like any mum, my concerns were feeding my family in difficult times. A pantry well stocked with basic supplies is something modern living has little need of with 24 hour shopping, so I decided to Google it and, low and behold, I found a whole subculture who live in fear of disaster. I thought I'd shared my findings with you!

When Robert Baden-Powel, founder of the Boy Scouts, chose the motto “Be Prepared” he intended that a Boy Scout should be ready to face any situation. Scouts take wilderness treks, go camping, cook on an open fire, learn to tie knots, light fires without matches and how to communicate using semaphore. It all seems like an adventure and a fun thing to do if you are a kid. However, there are people who live everyday of their lives honing their survival skills just in case disaster strikes.

They are called “Preppers” or “Survivalists”. This is not a new concept and Preppers are currently in the third wave of development. The first were those born in the 1930s-50s who experience World War II, then there were those of the 70s and 80s who were worried about nuclear attack more than anything or socio-economic collapse and since the 2001 September 11^th attack in the US there is a new generation of people who see impending doom, be it natural disaster, nuclear war or even alien or zombie invasion, looming just around the corner! On the web there is a plethora of sites dedicated to the Prepper Lifestyle and culture.

Preppers have lists of supplies with which to fill their store rooms or bunkers, these include edible products and non-food items that are used in everyday life and are seem to be essential for survival. Not only that but they keep themselves fit by hiking and working out, they are usually skilled hunters as they will tell you that the apocalypse is no place for a vegetarian. They have there own terminology (see below).

Sound crazy to you? Even reputable organisations such as The American Red Cross recommend having an emergency box. (More information on their site.)

Survivalist terms

(Adapted from Wikipedia)

• Alpha strategy: Having extra supplies of consumable to swap or use to be (seen to be) charitable.
• Ballistic wampum: Ammunition used for bartering. (Wampum are beads that Native Americans used in Exchange.)
• BOB: Bug-out-bag/G.O.O.D. kit = an Emergency supply kit.
• BOL: Bug-out location. = a place to escape to.
• BOV: Bug-out vehicle = an escape Car.
• Crunch: any major, long-term disaster.
• EDC: Everyday carry. The things we ordinarily carry with us in case disaster strikes, this could include a weapon.
• EOTW: End of the world
• Goblin: A criminal,
• Golden horde: The people who will escape from the cities when disaster strikes.
• G.O.O.D.: Get out of Dodge (city). Escaping a city in time of disaster.
• I.N.C.H. Bag: I'm Not Coming Home Bag. = a bag carried at all times so you don't have to go home and pack if disaster strikes while you out.
• Pollyanna or Polly: You are probably one! Someone who doesn't believe the worst will happen.
• Prepper/ survivalist/ retreater: someone prepared for disaster.
• TEOTWAWKI: The end of the world as we know it
• WROL: Without rule of law. 
• YOYO: You're on your own.
• Zombie: Those of us who weren't prepared and rely on other's preparedness. (Eating their brains - get it?)
• Zombie apocalypse: a metaphor for any natural or man-made disaster (and sadly in some cases it seems to be taken literally!)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT QUESTIONS:

What situations do you need to prepare for?

Do you think people who prepare for disaster have genuine concerns or are they extremists, crazy or both?

 

Would be able to survive if disaster struck?

Do you already have any of the skills/supplies that are mentioned in the text above?

If you had 24 hours to prepare for impending disaster, what would you do?

What items do you consider are essential to survival?

If you had to escape now, what one thing would you take with you?

Where do you think a threat to our lifestyle is most likely to come from?

Are you a Prepper? Why? If not, would you become one? Why?

 

Have I put you in the mood for a disaster movie? Try these ones to keep this crazy theme going!

Divergent

The Maze Runner

Waterworld

Terminator II/Salvation

The Hunger Games

The Day After Tomorrow

2012

Elysium

Alive!

 Cast Away

Contagion

Outbreak

Children of Men

The Host

Dante's Peak

Mars Attack!

 

 

GETTING AROUND (by unusual means of transport)!

How do you get around?

My students know that come rain or shine you will, my favourite means of transportation is my bike. I do take my car occasionally. The other day I was listening to a compilation CD and came across the song Commute  by Theatre of Tragedy and got to thinking that means of transport would be a good thing to explore!

The way you get from A to B on a daily basis will obviously depend on which neck of the woods you live in. You also need to think about how you travel further afield perhaps on a business trip or a day excursion or even a weekend break. If you go abroad you may want to travel by air or sea and if you are travelling cross country you'll most likely go on land.

There are many means of transport and most you probably already know but what about some more unusual types? Click on the key words to explore the ingenious world of transport! In a town you might see someone on a tandem - a bicycle made for two, or if you travel to the Far East you might go for a ride in a rickshaw. In big cities like London, you can often see business men on scooters or even skate boards or if you want something a little more futuristic how about a Segway. In the air you might want to travel by hot air balloons or airships also known as dirigibles. The first aeroplanes were called biplanes as they had two wings. Or how about seaplanes that land and take off from water? Another vehicle that can be used on water or land is a hovercraft. There are also DUCWs (pronounced 'duck'), you can take a tour of London on one before sailing up the Thames.

 

I hope you have enjoyed the brief glimpse at means of transport. If you want more on transport check out these films:

 

FILMS

The Polar Express

Murder on the Orient Express

The Wild West

The Hunt for Red October

Trains, Planes and Automobiles

Titanic

Herbie

Summer Holiday

Air Force One

The Aviator

Top Gun

Pirates of the Caribbean

The Perfect Storm

Mutiny on the Bounty

Speed

The Runaway Bus

Thelma and Louise

Rebel Without a Cause

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Christine

Vacation

Cars

Aeroplanes

Mission: Impossible

Yellow Submarine

The Hindenburg

Up (if a flying House counts as Transport!)

Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets (flying car!)

Black Beauty