Reported speech

1. Mr Brown said:" I was watching TV last night."
    Mr Brown said (that) .

Click Here to begin

                                                                                                                           thanks E4U

Come watch the "Strand Beest"

Dutch artist Theo Jansen has been working for 16 years to create sculptures that move on their own in eerily lifelike ways. Each generation of his "Strandbeests" is subject to the forces of evolution, with successful forms moving forward into new designs.

Jansen's vision and long-term commitment to his wooden menagerie is as fascinating to observe as the beasts themselves.

His newest creatures walk without assistance on the beaches of Holland, powered by wind, captured by gossamer wings that flap and pump air into old lemonade bottles that in turn power the creatures' many plastic spindly legs. The walking sculptures look alive as they move, each leg articulating in such a way that the body is steady and level. They even incorporate primitive logic gates that are used to reverse the machine's direction if it senses dangerous water or loose sand where it might get stuck.

Watch this incredible kinetic art in action!!

About BEC Preliminary

BEC Preliminary is the 'Business English Certificate' at the B-1 level, the first level Cambridge business English exam.

What is the BEC Preliminary test like? The test has five sections:

1. Reading & Writing- 90 minutes, 45 reading questions, 2 writing questions
   1. part 1 - 5 short texts each followed by a multiple-choice question
   2. part 2 - match questions to parts of a text
   3. part 3 - match questions to parts of a graphic
   4. part 4 - text and questions: Right/Wrong/Doesn’t say.
   5. part 5 - text and multiple choice questions
   6. part 6 - text with multiple choice gaps
   7. part 7 - note completion
   8. writing part 1: internal communciation such as email or memo
   9. writing part 2: business correspondence
2. Listening - 40 minutes, 30 questions
   1. part 1 - multiple choice
   1. part 2 - note completion, numbers and letters
   2. part 3 - note completion
   3. part 4 - multiple choice
3. Speaking - interview, normally with another candidate, 12 minutes

Sentence Patterns

Some of you remember tht I spend a lot of time pumping into your heads:

     S            V          O       + complement
subject    verb    object          extra info

The complement can usually be placed at the beginning or the end of the main SVO

Because we speak a different language, sometimes we 'forget' that we need the English verb pattern.

If we translate the German sentence:
Gestern ging ich spazieren.
                 V    S       O
I went  for a walk yesterday.  OR  Yesterday I went for a walk.
S   V          O                                                           S    V       O

Try this exercise from Oxford Living Grammar

elementary
intermediate

Unreal Uses of the Past

1.The kids really need to go to bed now.  It’s nearly midnight.
 

It’s time the k..............................................................................

 
2.I’d prefer for you not to smoke in here.
 

I’d rather...............................................................................

 
3.I would like to be able to have enough money to retire at 50.
 

I wish I......................................................................................

 
4.We shouldn’t have bought the black car-it’s so hard to keep clean!
 

If only we..................................................................................

 
5.Don’t you think you should start to look for a new job?
 

...............................it’s time you.........................................

6.He shouldn’t be so stingy! Then he’d enjoy life more.
 

If only he...................................................................................

 
7.Would you prefer us to come on another day?
 

.................rather we.................................................................

 
8.I should have bought the Mac not the HP.
 

I wish.........................................................................................

 
9.I would prefer you pay cash.
 

I’d rather.................................................................................

 
10.I’m allergic to dogs. Can your dog stay outside?
 

I’d rather .................................................................................

 

WHAT? No Key?  Print this out and bring it to Torrie!

 

Happy Swiss Sami Claus Day!

Quick History Lesson

St. Nikolaus was a Saint with roots in Myra. He passed away on December 6 in the year 343. There are lots of accounts about this extraordinary bishop who was well known for his generosity. The modern day St. Nicholas in Wil would tell one of the stories which is age appropriate for the kids attending. “It seems clear that younger kids believe in Samichlaus, but we never claim to be St. Nicholas himself.”
Read more. Click here

Thank you Newly Swissed

Santa Claus is Coming To Town

You better watch out, you better not cry.      Better not shout                                                 I'm telling you why-                                      Santa Claus is coming to town.                           He's making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who's naughty and nice. Santa Claus is coming to town.

He knows when you are sleeping He knows when you're awake. 

 He knows if you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake!

SO- you better watch out you better not cry you better not shout!  Santa Claus is coming to town!!

 

Watch and sing along with  the Youtube video HERE

First Listening Part one

Okay people, let's sharpen our listening skills!
In part one you hear  people talking in eight different situations. 
BEGIN HERE

To thoughtfully evaluate a work of art...

...you must determine what your criteria are for judging it. Only you the artist can provide this information. Do not assume your fellow student , the viewer, or the teacher shares your point of view. Try to look at it objectively.

 1.   Describe the work

·        what does it look like?

·        what is it made of?

·        What are the colors lines, shapes, texture, & space you see

 

Assume others (the audience) does not see the piece and that you alone are there for their understanding of it's qualities.  

2.   Interpret the work

·        What does it mean?

·        What do you notice first in this picture?

·        Where is your eye led?

·        Why?

Here you are asked to synthesize any information you have with your own (subjective) interpretation of the work's meaning/significance.  

3.   Evaluate the work

·        is it art?

·        is it interesting?

·        does it "work"?

This is, perhaps, the most difficult critical task, yet it is usually the one to which most people skip when evaluating(criticizing) a work of art. Explain why you feel the way you do.

collaboration

noun

synonyms: Joint work toward a common end coaction, cooperation, synergy, teamwork.

Collaboration refers to two or more people or entities working together to achieve some common aim. (noun)

When the police department and a politician work together to get a new crime bill passed, this is an example of a collaboration between the police department and the politician.

For the German translation click here