Nordhausen course

[RimcMullen]

We went to the Sondershausen Saltmines yesterday and the group had a lot of fun. It was very interesting. I did a small presentation about some of the history before we started and what happens there now and afterwards we all went to my apartment for cake and coffee and talked about what we learned.

Today, we are finishing up Talk Time 2 Unit 12 Jobs and Talents using can, could and know how to for present and could and knew how to for ability in the past.

I gave them the unit test afterwards and the results were: Susanne 17/20, Grit 17/20, Katrin, 19/20, Yvonne 13/20, Diana 16/20, Katarina 20/20, Lars, 18/20 & Dorina 19/20.

I continued with the past theme using World Link 2 Unit 11 Technology Today practicing the use of used to and didn't use to.

I will have the results of the unit test Monday.

I switched Yvonne and Lars to partner with Katarina and Diane and that seems to be helping a lot.

I told them about the test so that's fine. The book I have has sample questions but no actual sample test. Wouldn't I need a CD as well? We did look at the link you gave us this morning.

On Monday, we will begin with a review of various grammar points from this week and then start with Business Basics Unit 7 Describing and Comparing – again the exercises in the unit are not connected with what is on the CD.

[RimcMullen]

Hi Torsten/Uli,

Maybe you should give them a mock test on Tuesday then - unless you want to leave the material I'll need to do it here. However, a surprise test with little preparation time may be a good thing to help them all gage how much they need to learn. Either way I will be watching the forum so I'll be ready for next Monday.

I did some reading comprehension tests using the link from Torsten today again. Uli, I have been doing lot of speaking and listening with them so a little more reading with TOEIC practice would be good I think.

The results of the Unit Test from World Link 11 (Technology Today) using Used to to talk about the past were Dorina 21; Katarina 22; Grit 23; Susanne 23; Yvonne 25; Diana19; Lars 25 & Katarina 25 out of 25.

We also finished up Talk Time Unit 4 On the Weekend to practice the simple past and the results from that unit test were: Dorina 20; Katarina 20; Grit 20; Susanne 20; Yvonne 17; Diana19; Lars 20 & Katarina 20 out of 20.

So the ss have been doing a lot of work with present simple, present continuous & past simple and future with will and going to. A little review over the rest of the week should help to solidify their understanding of those tenses before moving on to the perfect tenses.

We also began and completed Basics Unit 7 Describing and Comparing with superlatives.

I reviewed TOEIC test strategies with sample reading question this afternoon and then began Worldlink 2 Unit 10 Telecommunications focusing on verb + gerund vs. verb + infinitive.

[Torsten]

Hi Richard,

Thanks a lot for your update. Yes, to give the students some TOEIC listening comprehension questions you'll need the audio resources too. We've been working on something and actually do have the audio files to the materials below but we still need to put them online. So Uli, in the meantime I suggest you use the following materials as reading comprehension resources:
TOEIC listening part IV, 1
TOEIC listening part IV, 2
TOEIC listening part IV, 3
TOEIC listening part IV, 4
TOEIC listening part IV, 5
TOEIC listening part IV, 6

Please first introduce new vocabulary, then read the passages with the students together and translate the texts. Then read the questions and have them suggest their answers. Then go through the correct answers and discuss why the other answer options are incorrect. Finally, have the students read each passage aloud helping them with their pronunciation and intonation.

I'll do listening comprehension questions with them tomorrow.
Regards,
Torsten

TOEIC short conversations: Asking for a quote on printer cartridges

[HansUlrich]

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Hi Torsten and Richard,
Many thanks for leaving the “Inside the new TOEIC EXAM” book and your good advice.
Today we followed your kind recommendations and took some TOEIC tests (mainly Reading exercises according to the TOEIC Official Test preparation Guide (Bo Argobast….), Short conversations… etc..

All ladies appreciated Richard’s & Torsten's approach to the tests and ask for adequate continuation especially the useful “Listening exercises…” are very important for improving their language skills.

Torsten, you have used the TOEIC test CD with good listening tests very successfully.

Could you please recommend us an adequate link to some TOEIC listening exercises for tomorrow's class?

Many thanks.
Best regards Uli. :D

[Torsten]

Hi Uli,

Thanks for your great work. Yes, it would be great if you could do some listening comprehension training with the group. It's very important for them to listen to a variety of sources not only for the purpose of test preparation but rather for their own purpose. Please use the following links to find audio resources you can listen to together with the group. Have them write down any keywords they understand and ask them questions about the contents of the recordings:
http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2008-11-20-voa4.cfm
http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2008-10/2008-10-15-voa2.cfm
http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2008-10/2008-10-09-voa2.cfm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/
http://www.cnn.com/audio/radio/winmedia.html

Let me know what you think.
Regards,
Torsten

TOEIC short conversations: Switching careers

[RimcMullen]

Hi Uli. Please say hello to the ss for me from Ireland. I will of course be back on Monday and just let me know where you've finished up to in the Busioness Basics book.

[Torsten]

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Hi Richard and Uli, can you hear my voice message? (Simply click on the red play button). Thanks. Torsten

TOEIC short conversations: Clarifying information on an invoice

[HansUlrich]

Hi Torsten and Richard,
many thanks for your useful links to find adequate audio resources we have listened to yesterday and today (Thursday and Friday) . We have written down some keywords :
real estate
balance sheet
environment
sales department
turnover
marketing management
departments
processing
distribution
market research
advertisement
CEO
and asked questions about the contents of the recordings.
These were good tests in preparation for the TOEIC listening exercises.
We continued in Grammar with Unit 21 & 22 Passive 1 and 2, managed the relevant tests and have repeated comparison.
We have done TOEIC Exercises C Recognizing the Topic, Practice 1 and 3 questions 150 to 179 and error recognition.
I recommend to continue with Business Basics and concentrate on TOEIC preparation especially listening exercises. Our students appreciate this very much.
Have a relaxing weekend.
Best Regards,
Uli

[HansUlrich]

Hi Torsten,
unfortunately I can not listen to your voice message.
Have a nice weekend.
best regards Uli.
PS: The group is waiting with great happiness that Richad will be in Nordhausen on Monday. Richard is most welcome.

[HansUlrich]

Hi Torsten,

I couldn’t log on for the longest time this morning but I heard your voice message on Saturday. I tried to listen again today but this computer doesn’t play it.

I agree they need more vocabulary and listening practice. Unfortunately, the Business Basics book lessons are less and less compatible regarding listening and text so really all we can do are the reading and speaking exercises.

The series I‘ve been using Talk Time is very good for listening and learning new vocabulary plus I do have the teacher’s book and the unit tests so I can monitor their comprehension.

The World Link series is even better because, as the name suggests, it has a global focus. It’s set up as a video course split into two parts – the first features a group of friends living in New York City (much like the TV show Friends) but the characters speak English with 6 different accents, American, Brazilian, British, Korean, Japanese and Mexican.

I would imagine the TOEIC test would have a similar accent mix.

The second part of each unit is called Global Perspectives where ss hear the viewpoints of people with all the aforementioned accents plus some more English speakers Spanish, Chinese, French, Italian and Russian accents.

Again, I have the teacher’s book and unit tests for this series too. However, I brought back the series just below the other ones I was using because the grammar was getting to complex for their general level. I originally brought WL 2 and TT 2 because they had more business and working related themes and because I didn’t know the level of the students. However, the grammar is a little too complicated for most of them as they are more like an intermediate or B1-B2 level texts. So, I brought back WL 1 and TT1 (which is closer to a pre-intermediate or A2-B1) the lowest level in these series is titled Intro which is aimed at beginners.

I also have all the supporting materials for WL 1 and TT 1 but they both use very general themes but with grammar more suited to the average student in the call. (Katharina excepted). However, while material may be a little simpler – I could go thru it much faster with them doing 2 units a day along with tests and some TOEIC practice every day

What do you think - should I continue to use the Business Basics book a the main teaching material or concentrate or more of the other materials.

I won’t use any TOEIC or Business Basics material today because I have been away and would need time to prep a lesson. So far today, we finished up the Telecommunications Unit 10 focusing on using verb + infinitive and verb + gerund. The Unit test scores were Katharina 20/20, Lars 20/20, Diana 18/20, Yvonne 18/20, Dorina 18/20, Katrin 19/20, Grit 18/20 and Susanne 20/20

We then began Talk Time Unit 4 Everyday Activities and Places to review Present Continuous, Preposition at and Wh questions.

[Torsten]

Hi Richard,

Many thanks for your update. Since you have the TT and WL materials as a set including the audio and teacher's book I suggest you continue using them as the main course books rather than Business Basics where the recordings don't match with the written exercises.

In addition you might want to use the audio resources from Voice of America.

Let me know what you think.
Regards,
Torsten

TOEFL listening lectures: Why do the Lascaux cave paintings probably not qualify as graffiti?

[HansUlrich]

OK. I am using simpler material but I will pick up the pace a little as well. Does CNN or BBC have any materials for English learners on-line? Bis dann

[RimcMullen]

Sorry Hans. I will log in as me from now on.

[RimcMullen]

I uaed CNN today and will do so again tomorrow. We also covered nearly two Units in Wl and on in TT so it has been a busy day. I'll have more details online tomorrow.

[Torsten]