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How about a nice presentation in Power Point format, that includes the basic vocabulary and common expressions to describe pictures in an oral test? Yes, I do think you need something like this.

Those few minutes you are going to be in front of two teachers in the oral exam are very important. You need to remain calm throughout, give elaborate answers (”yes/no” is never enough), give a “why” to your replies, and of course, there are certain  tips you should not forget when it comes to describing photographs and giving your personal opinion.

This Power Point exercise can be really useful. Pay attention to the different expressions you are going to come across. At the end of the presentation, there are several photographs arranged in different pages for you to practise.

I owe this exercise to Silvia, my fellow teacher - and friend- at Langreo EOI. Thanx, mate!

What are your earliest childhood memories? How old were you? We all have something to say when we remember our past, don’t we?

In this listening exercise, three people are talking about incidents they remember from their childhood or teens. It’s track 5.3, Student’s book page 74 (Listening - parts b & c)

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• Download audio
• You can read the script on page 127

And last, but not least … look at the experiences below, think of some examples and prepare a short speech for an oral activity next week. It’s another exercise from your Student’s book, page 75.  Your childhood, your teens… a nice topic to talk about, isnt’t it?

Being able to express your own opinion regarding certain topics of general interest, considering the pros and cons, the positive and negative aspects from a global perspective, and then focusing on more specific ideas, is a ‘must’  for students of English at an intermediate level.

Writing tests in English usually include parts in which you are required to do so. They are called “For and Against” essays or compositions. Well, it’s time to get down to work and start learning useful tips on how to write, helpful expressions and linking words, and of course how to organize a  for-and-against composition.

Click below to download a set of photocopies which we will be working with in days to come.

• For-and-against writing

By the way, this unit includes a listening exercise in which you have to decide which for-and-against points  are dealt with, from the topic “living in the country”

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Download: Audio || Exercise || Key+script

OK, now it’s up to you… are you for or against living in the country?

Word building exercises are one of the most effective ways to enrich your English vocabulary. Prefixes and suffixes turn nouns into adjectives, adjectives into verbs… can you imagine the amount of new words you can learn this way?

The following links will take you to some word building exercises that you can find in the “online practice” section on this web site. Exercise 4 was recently added, and it’s the one we worked with on Monday 8 in the computer classroom

• Exercise 1
• Exercise 2
• Exercise 3
• Exercise 4

By the way, the web has lots of different sites where you can practise online.  Just to give you an example, click on this link and you’ll find a nice word building exercise : make antonyms (opposites) using prefixes.

Come on, it’s time to increase your vocabulary 

This listening exercise requires holding your breath and diving deep into the blue sea… for the woman talking about her life underwater is Tanya Streeter, the world champion free-diver.

She held for years an amazing freediving record established in 2002, reaching a depth of 525 feet (160 metres), greater than any men’s record. As far as I know, she still holds the women’s world records for “Variable Weight Apnea” and “No Limits Apnea”

Here you can listen to Tanya talking about her life, her origins, the way she started getting in contact with water… an interesting listening comprehension about an amazing sportswoman.

Well, listen and complete the exercise. Key and script are included, though in this case I must admit that the text in the script is rather blurred.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download:

• Audio
• Exercise
• Key
• Script