Thursday, April 2nd
Another way to prepare your oral is to go on Youtube.com and type the following keywords : Business case study and add the name of the company you want to talk about, you can also use ChatGPT to help you with this research.
Monday, March 30th
Thursday, March 26th
Choose the organisation you want to work on for your final presentation, you will need to be able to talk about most of these points.
Monday, March 23rd
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.
Monday, March 16th
questions :
- What kind of organization is Patagonia? (Is it a for-profit company, a non-profit organization, or a hybrid model? Explain.)
Patagonia is a for-profit company, but it operates with a strong environmental mission. Since the recent ownership change, it can be considered a hybrid model, because its profits are directed toward environmental causes.
- Who founded Patagonia and what motivated him to change the ownership structure of the company?
Thursday, February 26th
Choose the organisation you want to work on for your final presentation, you will need to be able to talk about most of these points.
Monday, February 23rd
Bank of Dave : QUIZ
Thursday, February 5th
Oral Task – Job Interview Role-Play
Monday, February 2nd
Bank of Dave, watching the film
Thursday, January 22nd and 29th
Oral Task – Job Interview Role-Play
You will prepare and perform a job interview role-play in English. One student plays the role of a recruiter representing a company, and the other plays the role of a candidate applying for a job.
The dialogue should last about 4 minutes, with a balanced speaking time for both speakers.
The interview must include:
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Welcoming the candidate and introducing the interview
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Presenting the company (activity, sector, values or working environment)
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Presenting the candidate (background, skills, strengths)
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Explaining why the candidate is suitable for the company
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Discussing the job and the working conditions (salary, working hours, flexibility, working environment, contract type)
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Closing the interview politely
This is a dialogue, not a monologue: both speakers must interact naturally and ask questions.
Monday, January 19th
Introduction / WHAT?
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The document I’m going to talk about is an infographic.
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This document is a statistical chart about the gender pay gap.
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What we have here is a comparative bar chart dealing with wage inequality.
Topic / WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
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It is about pay inequality between men and women.
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The document addresses the issue of the gender pay gap.
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It takes a look at income disparities in different professions.
Describe the document above using the handout “how to present a document” and the vocabulary below.
Nature of the document
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an infographic
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a statistical chart
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a comparative bar chart
Topic
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the gender pay gap
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wage inequality
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income disparity
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pay inequality between men and women
What the document shows
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to show
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to illustrate
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to highlight
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to compare
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figures
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percentages
Key ideas
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women earn less than men
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unequal pay
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professional inequality
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gender-based discrimination
Comparing sectors
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a wider / narrower gap
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more / less significant
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compared to
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whereas / while
Analysing the message
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to suggest that
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to make us realize that
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to show that inequality still exists
Giving an opinion
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striking
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unfair
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concerning
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shocking
Thursday, January 15th
Reported speech : online exercise
Monday, January 12th
about MKBHD
Thursday, January 8th
Monday, January 5th
Monday, December 15th
Thursday, December 11th
Write about the picture below using this form (based on the handout “how to talk about any document“)
Vocabulary help
1. Describing the Image
- Verbs: shows, depicts, portrays, features
- Composition: black-and-white, foreground/background, bold text
- Key Details: two children (boy/girl), contrasting facial expressions, provocative statement
2. Analyzing the Message
- Theme: gender pay gap, inequality, unfair treatment
- Tone: ironic, sarcastic, thought-provoking, shock factor
- Effect: raises awareness, critiques social norms, challenges stereotypes
3. Expressing Personal Reaction
- Opinion: I find it shocking/powerful/eye-opening
- Emotional Response: moving, unsettling, disturbing
- Impact: prompts reflection, questions everyday habits, resonates with societal issues
4. Linking Words
- Organization: Firstly, Secondly, Finally; However, Moreover, Therefore
- Emphasis: indeed, in fact, especially
- Cause/Effect: because of, leading to, resulting in
5. Short Phrases for Commentary
- Introduction: “This ad, created by…, focuses on…”
- Description: “In the foreground, we see…” / “The text reads…”
- Analysis: “It addresses…, using irony to…”
- Reaction: “I believe it effectively highlights…”
- Conclusion: “Overall, it conveys the message that…”
6. Inferring the Source & Organization
- Source: Equal Opportunity Commission (Victoria)
- Purpose: promote awareness, advocate equal rights, reduce discrimination
- Characteristics: government-related, carries legal authority, official endorsement
- Connection: provocative campaign to spark debate, underline seriousness of issue
Monday, December 8tH
correction :
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came — Prétérit simple : fait passé daté et terminé, sans lien avec le présent.
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didn’t like — Prétérit simple : réaction ponctuelle du médecin au moment de la visite.
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have been lying — Present perfect continu : bilan + durée d’une situation commencée dans le passé et encore vraie maintenant (since Tuesday).
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have never been — Present perfect : bilan de vie jusqu’à maintenant (never).
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has been — Present perfect : état actuel résultant d’une situation récente.
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has been raining — Present perfect continu : bilan + commentaire sur une activité en cours sur une période récente (all day).
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didn’t come — Prétérit simple : fait passé ponctuel et daté (this morning).
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was — Prétérit simple : état mental passé au moment évoqué.
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had paid — Pluperfect simple : bilan à un moment du passé, action antérieure à une autre action passée.
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got married — Prétérit simple : événement passé clairement situé dans le temps (last week).
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have left — Present perfect : résultat visible dans le présent (les enfants ne sont plus à la maison).
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has moved — Present perfect : changement récent avec conséquence actuelle.
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died — Prétérit simple : événement passé clos et irréversible.
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has been — Present perfect : situation “up to now”, toujours vraie au moment où l’on parle.
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was — Prétérit simple : fait passé expliqué après coup (apparently).
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am — Présent simple : état actuel, commentaire du locuteur.
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has gone — Present perfect : résultat actuel d’un départ récent.
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have been — Present perfect : bilan sur une longue durée jusqu’à maintenant (for over forty years).
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has always been — Present perfect : caractéristique constante observée sur toute la période passée jusqu’au présent.
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has left — Present perfect : résultat immédiat dans le présent.
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am — Présent simple : réaction et jugement actuels du locuteur.
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wasn’t — Prétérit simple : appréciation d’un état passé, détaché du présent.
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haven’t trusted — Present perfect : bilan négatif jusqu’à maintenant, rupture avec un fait passé.
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broke — Prétérit simple : fait ponctuel passé, élément déclencheur.
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said — Prétérit simple : parole rapportée dans la narration passée.
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was — Prétérit simple : état attribué au moment du fait raconté.
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hasn’t been — Present perfect : bilan global jusqu’au présent (not much change).
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have taken — Present perfect : action passée avec conséquence visible aujourd’hui.
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seem — Présent simple : impression / commentaire subjectif actuel.
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will be — Futur (will) : projection, hypothèse personnelle sur l’avenir.
tenses
Monday, December 1st
Thursday, November 27th
Orals +
Almost a dictation, about airpods, the first commercial when they got released/launched.
The voice is that of Jony Ive, long-time Apple designer and one of the most celebrated designer today.
A little help: wireless (not using wires) sans fil
It is now possible to have wireless connections between lots of different devices in your home.
Il est maintenant possible d’avoir chez vous des connexions sans fil entre de nombreux appareils.
Monday, November 24th
Thursday, November 20th
Thursday, November 13th
Getting ready for the oral presentation
interesting tool : Natural Readers
Monday, November 10th
Test : The Firm
Thursday, November 6th
Orals +
Tony & Sandra, the story (an exercise about tenses)
Monday, November 3rd
Look at the comprehension questions, answer them briefly and then use them to create a story.
- Where did Tony first meet Sandra?
- How old was he? How old was she?
- Did Tony know how to dance?
- Who taught him?
- What was Sandra wearing at the dance?
- Who was she talking to in a dark corner of the disco?
- Who took Sandra home after the dance?
- Where did Tony and Sandra meet again two days later?
- How often did they see each other?
- What was Sandra’s father job?
- What was his attitude to Tony?
- How long was it before Tony and Sandra saw each other again?
- How was their meeting arranged?
- Why was Tony surprised when he saw Sandra?
- Did Sandra’s father change his mind in the end? Why?
Thursday, October 16th
Do some research using DUCK DUCK GO and prepare some notes to be able to talk for 5 minutes about a business that failed at implanting itself in another country.
Monday, October 13th
Tenses : Waiting for the bus
Thursday, October 9th
test : Therapy, by David Lodge
Monday, October 6th
Thursday, September 25th
Do some research using DUCK DUCK GO and prepare some notes to be able to talk for 5 minutes about a business failure, a big flop that interests you and that you may choose.
Monday, September 29th
Reading Tartan, a short-story by George Mackay Brown.
Thursday, September 25th
🎥 WATCH THE VIDEO
Product Flops & Business Failures – Student Form
Instructions : Watch the video and answer the questions below. Use the bilingual hints to help you understand key expressions and business terms.
Monday, September 15th
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 11th
Take some notes while doing the exercise, don’t write EVERYTHING but write SOMETHING!
Monday, September 8th
General introduction & a short history of the English Language
Thursday, September 4th
- Howlers – most common mistakes to avoid
- numbers and figures (to train yourself at home use this)
- comparatives and superlatives
