Technological advances (Activity)

In order to talk about a topic we first need to develop vocabulary. Activities 4 A and B on page 20 aim to get your attention to some relevant words regarding advances in technology. Complete the activities and if necessary check a dictionary and pronunciation. Send answers here, I'll post the correct answers tomorrow afternoon. Second thing to do is to consider the headline (taken from same page 20) Internet peaks as most important information source and post here your pros and your cons on that headline. Need at least three of each. We'll use this information in a discussion in class, but need it to be ready and done.

Last one, I'm posting here an article on technological advances. Everyone should write a summary and post it here by FRIDAY 28 Aug 09. Check the following point in writing a summary in English:

• Mention the most important points of the reading.
• Use your own words, do not copy sentences exaclty from the original text.
• It must be much shorter than the original text.

Use or articles

The great news is that there are only two kinds of articles in English: definite (the) and indefinite (a/an). The bad news is the use of these articles is not as simple as it may seem. To help you out, here's a list of cases you can use as a practical reference (From First Certificate Language Practice, by M. Vince)... hope you find it useful. Here's also some basic practice.

Use of indefinite article a/an

• With something we refer to for the first time I'll give you a call tonight. / I have a great idea
• Where we use an adjective to describe a noun. It's a beautiful day / Cairo is a really big city
• With someone's job Pet is a truck driver.
• With singular fractions, group numbers and large numbers. one and a half kilos/ a dozen eggs / a hundred envelopes
• Meaning per. He was doing ninety miles an hour / Julie earns $800 a week

Use of definite article the

• With nouns we have mentioned previously. There is a bedroom and a living room. The bedroom is quite large.
• With nouns we mention for the first time, but where it is clear which person or thing we are talking about. Can you pass me the jam?
• Where there is only on of something. It is clear which one we are talking about. The moon in full tonight.
• With nouns followed by a descriptive phrase, which makes them definite. This is the man I told you about.
• With national groups. The British drink far too much tea and the Mexicans love tequila.
• With classes of people. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
• With individual items which represent a class. The white tigger is fast disappearing.
• With names of musical instruments that we can play. I can't play the piano, but I can play the guitar.
• With some geographical names. In particular: oceans, seas, rivers, canals and regions. The Thames flows into the North Sea.
• With plural countries, or where the country name contains a noun. The Netherlands / the People's Republic of China / the United States / the United Kingdom
• With superlatives, ordinals, the same, the only. This is the best party ever / You are the first in line / This is the only restaurant I like
• With media. I went to the cinema (the movies) / What's on (the) TV?

Zero article

• With uncountable nouns and plural countalbe nouns where we are talking generally. Football is life / I hate bugs / All he talks about is cars
• With most continents, countries, states, islands, mountains, lakes, citiess, parks, roads and streets, squares, bridges, palaces, castles, cathedrals, stations and airports. We're going to France next month / Take the train from Paddington Station to Bath.
• With company names, years, months, days and special times of the year She works for American Airlines / I'll see you in January
• With names of meals when we are talking generally It's time for lunch/ What's for dinner? But note The lunch I had at Vips was awful / The dinner Sue gave us last night was delicious
• With unique jobs or roles (definite article is also possible in these cases) Jim is (the) chairman of the company.
• With prepositions of place with certain buildings, where the purpose of the buildingis more important than the place itself, for example: bed, church, class, court, hospital, school, prision. Sally is in univeristy (she's a student) / Sally is in the university (she's a visitor to that specific building).
• With means of transport when we are talking generally. We went there by car But note We went there in the car that Alex rented. If we use in or on, we need an indefinite article We went there in a car / on a bus.

PS When in trouble deciding the pronunciation of a word, try this site.

Personal Beliefs

The typical paragraph structure for a composition in English includes a THESIS STATEMENT, which contains the main idea of a composition. This statement is usually found at the end of the first paragraph and includes the idea that is further explained in the rest of the composition. Each of the following paragraphs should focus on only one aspect of the main idea, so that means each of those paragraphs has its own topic sentence.

Prepare a short composition ( three paragraphs)based on any of the mottos in Unit 2 (p. 13). Think of a thesis statement and work on your composition. Use these questions to check your composition:
1 Does the idea in the first paragraph clearly state your point of view?
2. Do the examples given in your paragraphs support your thesis statement and clarify your point of view?
THIS ACTIVITY IS DUE TUESDAY 18TH, MIDNIGHT

Learning the latest words in fashion... what a bunch of glash!

Like I said... FACEC is not the best place to talk about fashion, and my knowledge on the area is totally lousy. Still, we can always learn something new... and look at what I found in The Daily Telegraph. Now after reading it I've learned I should not say trendy anymore, because that word is not "cool" anymore, and neither is cool... so I guess I'm ancient history now, I don't know the words in fashion! (actually, never have... and so what! hehe). What would you say?

Verb Patterns

We have learned in class (unit 1) that verbs can also take the role of a noun, so when we use a construction of "two verbs together", the second one is actually taking the role of a noun, and we have to decide whether to use an infinitive or a gerund... and that is usually learned through practice or by heart. A useful list of infinitive / gerund constructions can be found here, for those of you who love lists and gathering info!!!

There's also another point (unit 2) regarding verb patterns. This takes practice, let's face it, and exposure. If you are an avid reader you'll certainly have plenty of opportunities to observe these verb patterns in action, and eventually will learn how to use them, but for those who don't read English that often and need a more structured approach, here's a practical reference on the use of gerunds & infinitives to help you out. Hope you enjoy it!!!

Keep me posted with questions or comments on this topic!

Friendship (a composition)

You'll learn in this course that the typical paragraph structure for a composition in English includes a topic sentence (the main idea) and the rest of the paragraph contains one or more examples to illustrate the main idea. Give it a go... share with your class a brief composition about a close friend. Make it at least 3 paragraphs.

Welcome back!

Dear all,

A new semester begins and I already have a full inbox in my gmail account, so I've decided to create a corner for our interesting and fun exchanges. Please feel free to leave your comments on whatever topic, obsession, idea or thought you want to share with your class.

I'll be seeing you in class!!

MAC