Intensive English course, Sept 13 through Nov 5, 2010, Eilenburg

[Ian Spring]

Today's update.

Another great day with the Eilenburg group.
This group cannot be beaten for energy and camaraderie. Even with the dark wet weather, these guys marched on regardless. :-)

- Small talk and activity list for the last three days
- English AFI Grammar Book. P11 Present Progressive/Positive Sentences.
- English AFI Grammar Book. P12 Present Progressive/Negative Sentences.
- English AFI Grammar Book. P13 Present Progressive/Questions.
- Living in English (Employment) / P8 Reading and translation (Help Wanted)
- Living in English (Employment) / P9-10 Team work, Q&A Job Applications.
- Living in English (Employment) / P11 Explaining and Filling in Job Application.
- Small talk, evening plans and watching the BBC.

Once again I must reiterate, this is a highly charged and motivated group.
A true treasure to teach.

Ian :-)

[Torsten]

Hello Ian,

Today we reviewed the simple past and read the first chapter of our business thriller 'Dying for Love'. Here are my suggestions for you tomorrow:
- review the vocabulary of the business thriller
- answer the questions in detail (today we only ran through them)
- do the cloze activities
- ask the class how they think the story continues
- review the alphabet
- review the vocab introduced in the Employment handout
- do some listening comprehension training

Many thanks,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, talks: Speaker introduction

[Ian Spring]

Hi Torsten.

Thank you for the update.
Today we covered the following:

- written report on the students previous days activities (using simple past)
- Read the thriller text together and translated it to German.
- Revising the vocabulary from the thriller.
- Revised and completed the thriller questionnaire.
- Had the student write a concluding paragraph to the thriller. (read and checked)
- Q&A Students questioning their partners about the story.
- Revised the alphabet (spelling words and students names using the NATO system)
- small talk about the students evening plans.

Many thanks and Best wishes,
Ian

[Torsten]

Hi Ian,

Many thanks for update. Please take a look at the Jena invites and have a great day in Eilenburg tomorrow. Regards, Torsten

TOEIC listening, talks: Radio news report

[Ian Spring]

Hi Torsten here is a update for the last two days.

Wednesday: 20th October 2010
- small talk
- evening report (simple past)
- revision of numbers and the alphabet
- revision of Employment Book (job applications)
- Role-play: job interview
- reading newspaper wanted ad and writing application letter
- small talk: evening activities.

Thursday: 21st October 2010
- small talk
- revision simple present
- Vocab brain storming (buying/selling) in a business environment
- Creating shop dialogue between customer and sales person
- Role play
- Audio comprehensions (unit 1 Hueber Englisch Horkurs)
- small talk: evening activities.

As always there wasn't any problems with this lovely group.
I wish you a very good Friday !

Ian :-)

[Torsten]

Hello Markus, Ian and Scott,

After reviewing the simple present/simple past and present progressive we started our project work today. We are using the company database created by the Nordhausen gorup: www.english-team.com/PDF/companydatabase.xls

TOEIC listening, talks: Introducing cost saving measures

[Scott Graham]

Hi Ian, Markus and Torsten,

Just to update you all on this group.

I would like to reiterate what the other trainers have said; this group has a high level of self motivation and work well in a team.
As yesterday was my first time with the group, we of course began with introductions. I began by only giving my name then invited the group to ask me as many questions as they wished.
I then gave them a list of 15 questions to ask their partners, they were all created using different tenses. They then introduced their partners to me.
We then continued with the project, www.english-team.com/PDF/companydatabase.xls, but we slightly modified the table. I added 2 columns, one being zone, this was to identify the proximity of the company to Eilenburg. The second column was ‘field’, so the group had to try and identify the company’s field. I split the group into 2 teams and appointed 2 team leaders, who would then be responsible for delegating tasks and controlling each group.
We finished the day by brainstorming ‘food’ vocabulary, in categories, fruit, meat, dairy, vegetables and herbs/spices. The group then wrote a recipe for their favourite meal.
Today we began with a quick game of hangman, but they had to use words from yesterday.

I then briefed the group on a 1 day project; I call it ‘The London business trip challenge’. Again the group split into 2 teams which consisted of 4 people.

Business trip to London for 2 people. Budget €1000

Primary reason for trip – Conference at Westminster Palace on 12/01/2011
TravelDates of travel 11/01/2011 – 15/01/2011
Travel to include flights and transfers from Leipzig to hotel, London. Also local travel while in London
Taxis forbidden
HotelMinimum 3*
No further than 30 minutes away from Westminster
Has to include wireless in the room
Free time12/01/2011 Evening meal (budget €20/head for 3 courses)
13/01/2011 Sightseeing tour to include all important sights
14/01/2011 Choice of 5 evening events i.e. theatre etc

I explained that they might be more information they need, for which they will have to ask me.
The winning team won’t only have the best price but also the most organised and concise project to present to me. The losing team, the PM will be fired!!
_________________
Leipzig Englisch Sprachschule- a little London in Leipzig
http://www.leipzigenglisch.de

[Ian Spring]

Report from Eilenburg: Thursday 4th November 2010.

Today was my final day with this lovely group.

Our activities for today were:
- Small talk and reviewing the students previous weeks activities.
- Vocabulary on personnel strengths.
- 10 point list of each persons strengths and special skills
- Questioning the students about their choices and their reasons.
- Revision of simple past and simple present.
- Discussed pen pals and other methods of improving their English.
- Written text on the future plans of the students after their English course is finished.
- Discussion and Questions about each students decisions and plans.
- Small talk.

What can I say... A charming warm hearted group that you just don't want to say good bye to.
Ian :-)