Thursday, June 4th
Visit the new library and suggest additions.
Thursday, May 28th
A bit of reading (and listening): Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor
Thursday, May 21st
Présentez ces deux vidéos de manière relativement détaillée en français afin de mettre en valeur votre compréhension fine de ces deux documents. Rédigez deux présentations distinctes.
Utilisez cette page pour répondre.
Monday, May 18th
Thursday, May 7th
Here is the link to the catalog of a photography exhibition (Catalogo Superheroes) by Dulce Pinzón (Bio Dulce Pinzón), choose one photo then describe it and analyse it using this guided form or this unguided form.
Monday, May 4th
Thursday, April 30TH
Find a short video in ENGLISH on a subject which interest you and you wish to share
Use DUCKDUCKGO (set “region” according to your preference) (US English or United Kingdom, or Australia etc…)
Input some keywords
At the top select “video” and then “short”
Watch some videos, make an informed choice
Thursday, April 23rd
a short-story, The Gun by Philip K. Dick
- read online
- read on your phone/tablet/e-reader
- listen to the audiobook (file here or below)
Monday, April 20th
Thursday, April 2nd
What’s your learning style ? – There is no need to give your email address at the end, just click on SKIP !
irregular verbs in context (it is an opportunity to check this page: Irregular Verbs)
Monday, March 30th
CHAPTER ONE extract – TIMBUKTU
Paul Auster’s novel Timbuktu (1999) tells the story of Willy, a homeless man, and his dog, Mr. Bones, as they travel together while Willy is dying.
The author chooses a dog as narrator to make the story more emotional and original. The story is seen through the eyes of Mr. Bones, which allows the reader to understand Willy’s situation in a very personal way. Because the narrator is a dog, his feelings are simple but very strong, especially his loyalty and fear of losing his master.
This choice highlights important themes such as dependence, love, and death. Unlike a human narrator, Mr. Bones reacts instinctively, which makes the story more touching. At the same time, he can think in a surprisingly human way, which creates an interesting contrast.
As a result, the reader feels closer to the characters and more involved in the story. The dog’s perspective makes Willy’s situation more powerful and memorable.
Monday, March 23rd & Thursday 26th
In small groups, debate the following topic : “Should social media be banned for under-16s?”
Thursday, March 19th
Prepare for the debate : “Should social media be banned for under-16s?”
Do some research in ENGLISH using DUCKDUCKGO (set “region” according to your preference)
Below is a list of possible keywords for your research :
• social media age limit
• teenagers social media effects
• minimum age social media law
• arguments for banning social media under 16
• arguments against social media age restriction
• pros and cons of social media for teenagers
• mental health teenagers social media
• screen time effects adolescents
• online safety children risks
• freedom of speech teenagers
and 4 themes to articulate your reflection :
Mental health
FOR: addiction / anxiety / depression / low self-esteem / cyberbullying / online pressure
AGAINST: support communities / self-expression / access to help / sense of belonging
Freedom & rights
FOR: protection of minors / lack of maturity / need for regulation
AGAINST: freedom of expression / personal choice / digital rights / part of modern life
Education & productivity
FOR: distraction / lack of concentration / time-wasting / lower academic performance
AGAINST: access to information / learning opportunities / digital skills / educational content
Safety
FOR: online predators / privacy issues / personal data risks / harmful content
AGAINST: education over banning / awareness / responsibility / parental control / safer use
Tools to debate with:
Giving an opinion
I tend to think that… / I would argue that… / It seems to me that… / From my perspective… / I am convinced that…
Introducing an argument
One of the main arguments is that… / A key point to consider is that… / What is particularly important is that…
Developing an idea
This can be explained by the fact that… / The main reason is that… / This is mainly due to the fact that…
Cause & consequence
This can lead to… / This often results in… / As a consequence… / In the long run…
Nuancing
While it is true that…, it is also important to note that… / Although this may be true… / Even if…, it does not necessarily mean that…
Agreeing / Disagreeing
I completely agree / I couldn’t agree more / I see your point, but… / I understand, however… / This argument is valid to some extent, however…
Giving examples
For example… / For instance… / A clear example of this is… / This is particularly evident when…
Proposing solutions
Instead of…, we should… / A more effective solution would be to… / It would be better to…
Concluding
To sum up… / In conclusion… / Overall… / All things considered…
Monday, March 16th
Exercise 1 – Countable or Uncountable
information — U
students — C
furniture — U
mistakes — C
advice — U
apples — C
traffic — U
bottles — C
money — U
jobs — C
Exercise 2 – Much or Many
How many students are in your class?
There isn’t much time left.
I don’t drink much coffee.
How many books have you read this year?
There were too many people in the room.
She doesn’t have much experience.
We didn’t see many accidents on the road.
How much water do you drink every day?
Exercise 3 – A few / Few / A little / Little
I have few friends in this town, so I feel lonely.
There is a little milk in the fridge.
He made a few mistakes in the test.
There is little information available on this topic.
We have a few minutes left before the train leaves.
She showed little interest in the project.
Exercise 4 – Some / Any / No
There are some students waiting outside.
Do you have any questions?
I don’t have any money with me.
There are no restaurants open at this hour.
Would you like some tea?
We didn’t see any evidence of the crime.
She bought some flowers at the market.
Exercise 5 – A lot of / Lots of / Plenty of
She has a lot of / lots of ideas.
There is a lot of / lots of / plenty of work to do.
We have a lot of / lots of / plenty of opportunities.
There is plenty of / a lot of / lots of food for everyone.
Exercise 6 – Each / Every
Every student must complete the exercise.
I go running every morning.
The teacher spoke to each student individually.
Every room in the hotel has a balcony.
They gave a prize to each participant.
Exercise 7 – Either / Neither / Both
Neither of my parents speaks Spanish.
You can take either road.
Both solutions are correct.
Neither of the answers is correct.
Both candidates were qualified for the job.
Exercise 8 – Articles
I like Ø music very much.
She is a doctor.
The music in this film is beautiful.
I had a sandwich for lunch.
The lunch we had yesterday was excellent.
Ø dogs are loyal animals.
The dog is a loyal animal.
Ø France is a beautiful country.
The United Kingdom is an island nation.
I saw it on Ø television.
Exercise 9 – Add the article
Ø life is complicated sometimes.
I am studying the life of Beethoven.
Ø silence can be uncomfortable.
The silence in the room was strange.
She wants to become an engineer.
The engineers in this company are very skilled.
I saw him in Ø hospital yesterday.
Where is the hospital?
Exercise 10 – General or specific
I love Ø chocolate / the chocolate you bought yesterday.
Ø history is fascinating / the history of Rome is fascinating.
Ø books are expensive / the books on the table are expensive.
Ø life is short / the life of a soldier is difficult.
Exercise 11 – Titles and names
The President of the United States
Ø President Biden
The Queen of England
Ø Queen Elizabeth II
The Netherlands
Ø Italy
Exercise 12 – School / work / home
She is at Ø school today.
I went to the school to speak with the teacher.
He is in Ø hospital after the accident.
The visitors are waiting outside the hospital.
She stayed in Ø bed all day.
The cat jumped onto the bed.
Exercise 13 – A or An
a university
an hour
an honest person
a European city
an umbrella
a useful tool
Exercise 14 – Writing task
(examples)
Dogs are loyal animals.
The teacher in my class is very kind.
My father is a doctor.
I usually have Ø breakfast at 7 a.m.
The best student in the class won a prize.
Thursday, March 12th
explore and browse test-english.com
Thursday, March 5th
The Hobbit : (chapter one and the notes) describe and analyse the picture below using this form
Thursday, February 26th
Read and listen to the rest of Chapter one (below) and read these notes about The Hobbit
Monday, February 23rd
Thror’s map as designed by Tolkien for the first edition of The Hobbit
Monday, February 2nd
Carrie Reichardt, artist and craftivist, You may have a look at her Instagram account.
Exercise: Carrie Reichardt, follow the link and choose one picture to study.
Thursday, January 22nd and 29th
Telling a Tale: WORKSHEET
Monday, January 19th
Test : The Story of an Hour
Thursday, January 15th
Telling a Tale: WORKSHEET
Monday, January 12th
Telling a Tale: WORKSHEET
Thursday, January 8th
Telling a Tale: WORKSHEET
Monday, January 5th
Telling a Tale: WORKSHEET
MONDAY, December 10th & MONDAY,15th
Thursday, December 11th
WATCH: Vincent, a short animation by Tim Burton
TASK: If you feel comfortable writing in English and inspired write a short film review abour Vincent here OR if you feel like being guided write about Vincent by filling in the following form
Monday, December 8th
Extract from The Drowning Woman
Now answer the QUIZ
Monday, December 1st
Bev asked what they should do and Duncan told her not to worry because he had a plan.
correction :
1. b. HOW PEOPLE MAKE BOOKS
2. b. First of all, big sheets of paper are printed.
3. a. Each sheet contains the text of a number of pages (e.g. 32).
4. b. The sheets are folded and cut to produce the sections of the book.
5. a. The sections are called signatures.
6. b. All the signatures are put together in the correct order.
7. a. Then they are bound together and their edges are trimmed.
8. a. Finally, the cover – which was printed separately – is attached.
9. b. Now the book can be published.
A 30-second earthquake rocked buildings and shattered windows in Los Angeles last night.
Highway 118 was heavily damaged.
A small shopping mall was destroyed.
A fire is believed to have been caused by a fractured gas main.
Hundreds of shops and cinemas were evacuated.
40 people were reported to have been killed.
Five men were questioned about an armed robbery in a post office in Poole, Dorset.
David Scovell, 53, who was shot in the chest and leg when he tried to stop two men escaping, was still critically ill last night.
Two years ago, the same gang was tried for assault and robbery.
Thursday, November 27th
See last week’s entry about The story of an Hour and do the revised QUIZ
Monday, November 24th
correction :
Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.
She has been arrested for shoplifting.
Your car is being repaired now.
Spanish is spoken in Chile.
Has Peter been asked?
This ring was made by my mother.
This car is driven by electricity.
You will be told where to go.
She was knocked down by a drunken motorist.
Manchester was beaten 3–0 by Liverpool yesterday.
Paper was invented by the Chinese.
Hops are needed to make beer.
Stamps aren’t sold in bookshops.
Your application is still being considered.
Thursday, November 20th
The Story of an Hour first appeared in Vogue in 1894:
The Story of an Hour (link to the PDF file of the short-story)
by Kate Chopin (link to her entry in Wikipedia)
To go further: Study-guide
Thursday, November 12th
Monday, November 10th
Test : The Emerald Forest
Thursday, November 6th
now watch this other video and answer these questions.
Tuesday, November 4th
1. Vous avez dû rêver. You MUST HAVE dreamed.
2. J’ai dû changer un pneu. I HAD TO change a tyre
3. Est-ce qu’ils ont pu le vendre? Could they sell it? Were they able to sell it? Did they manage to sell it?
4. Il a fallu qu’elle prenne le train de sept heures. She HAD TO take the 7 o’clock train.
5. C’était dangereux, il aurait pu se casser un bras. It was dangerous, he COULD HAVE broken his arm.
6. Si elle avait dix-huit ans, elle pourrait voter. If she WAS/WERE (ancienne forme) 18 she COULD vote.
7. La tâche des enquêteurs pourrait être difficile. The investigator’s task MIGHT/COULD/MAY be difficult.
8. ils n’ont pas dû s’en apercevoir. They MUSTN’T HAVE realized.
9. Si tu les avais cassés, tu aurais dû les remplacer. If you had broken them, you SHOULD HAVE TO replace them.
10. J’aurais pu l’acheter, mais j’ai préféré garder l’argent. I COULD HAVE BOUGHT it but I prefered to keep the money.
11. Ils auraient dû s’en apercevoir avant. They SHOULD HAVE REALIZED it before.
12. Il se pourrait que leur équipe gagne la coupe du monde. Their team MIGHT WIN the world cup.
13. Elle a dû recevoir ma lettre. She MUST HAVE received my letter.
14. Il faut qu’il parte avant la fin de la réunion. He HAS TO GO before the end of the meeting.
15. Ce n’est pas la peine que tu restes. You DON’T NEED TO stay
16. Il ne faut pas conduire si vite. You SHOULDN’T DRIVE so fast.
17. Ça ne doit pas être très difficile. It MUSTN’T BE too difficult.
18. Ce n’était pas la peine que tu te presses. You DIDN’T NEED TO HURRY.
Thursday, October 16th
Oral presentation about:
- something you like
- something you know about
- something which can be talked about in English
-
- => search the web IN ENGLISH for information and vocabulary,
- Google is mainly going to give you results in French, try another search engine called Duckduckgo which can be easily switched to another language and location => https://duckduckgo.com/settings
- => compile a long list of elements (nouns, adjectives, VERBS, phrases, sentences etc. Store this list ONLINE.
- => prepare your presentation using the collected material
- => you may bring some pictures or a very short video clip on your phone (but no slides)
- => you need about 300 words to talk for a few minutes.
Monday, October 13th
1. Certainly, Tina knows that smoking is forbidden
Tina MUST KNOW that …
2. Certainly, Tina knew that smoking was forbidden.
Tina MUST HAVE KNOWN that…
3. It is possible that Tina didn’t know that smoking was forbidden.
Tina MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN that…
4. The Masked Avengers were probably the best group at the concert.
The Masked Avengers MUST HAVE BEEN …
5. Brian forgot his own address. That’s incredible.
Brian CAN’T HAVE FORGOTTEN …
6. Perhaps she is right after all.
She MAY BE right after all
7. It is probable that the fire started in the kitchen.
The fire MUST HAVE STARTED…
Thursday, October 9th
you need to work with 2 windows side-by-side (one for the sound, the other for the exercise, or you may listen to the sound file on your smartphone)
The Bear and The Dragon by Tom Clancy – American accent + extract from a spy novel – you may download the mp3 file or listen to it directly below.
and/or
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling – British accent – extract from the first chapter of the first volume – you may download the mp3 file or listen to it directly below.
Monday, October 6th
Re-write the story using Morag’s point of view, and write it in the first person (350 words +/-10%)
Monday, September 29th
Re-write the story using Morag’s point of view, and write it in the first person (350 words +/-10%)
- put yourself in her shoes an visualize the landscape (see photos below) and the scene (the Vikings coming ashore)
- collect vocabulary and information in the short-story which you are going to recycle in your own version.
Reading Tartan, a short-story by George Mackay Brown.
Use these handouts as reference : Simple Tense Chart / Complete Tense Chart
- Present Tense Final Exercise
- All Tenses Exercise 19
- All Tenses Exercise 18
- All Tenses Exercise 17
- All Tenses Exercise T139
- All Tenses Exercise T138
- All Tenses Exercise T137
- All Tenses Exercise T135
- All Tenses Exercise T133
- All Tenses 1
- All Tenses 2
- All Tenses 3
- My Piano Lessons – All Tenses Exercise
- Verb Tense Practice Test
Monday, September 22nd
==> Use the 8 forms of DRINK to complete the following sentences.
- He…………………… on Saturday night with his friends Bill and James.
- He …………………… whisky now, that’s really not like him.
- He …………………… at the time his wife left him.
- He …………………… before he finally left the pub.
- He…………………… . He is an alcoholic.
- He ……………………. Look at him, he is in such a state!
- He …………………… before he drove home!
- He …………………… three pints of Guinness.
Monday, September 15th
Thursday, September 11th
Monday, September 8th
Reading Tartan, a short-story by George Mackay Brown.
Visualizing the scene by drawing elements. The scene takes place in the north of Scotland, near Durness and it looks like this when the weather is good!
Thursday, September 4th General introduction & a short history of the English Language
