Practice your PRONUNCIATION

Here is an example of an excellent activity you can do to practice your pronunciation. 

In the video, Morgan Freeman reads aloud Justin Bieber's 'Love Yourself'. 

Pay attention to pauses, intonation, pronunciation, rhythm, etc. 

You can do this with any song you want. 

Look for the lyrics, play the song and follow the words. Then, read it yourself. Have a try, this is a really effective way of improving. 

Enjoy!

More: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) reading HOTLINE BLING:

Job Interview links for GAD & AYF

These are the basic webs where you should start looking for information. Please, do some research of your own, too. 

GAD Students: NH London Kensington Hotel

AYF Students: 

Deloitte Financial Advisory  

Deloitte Financial Advisory Overview

Article from the Daily Telegraph top 9th place to work in UK

JOB INTERVIEW Speaking Cards

To go over the Speaking Cards for your upcoming job interview please check María's blog - look at your right, it is under the heading 'English Dep. Blogs'. You just need to click on 'Speaking Cards'.

GAD Homework 29 January

Look at this conversation:

...ring ring...

A.A.:  Morganson Corporation. Good morning.
Caller: Hello. I'd like to speak to Mr Martin, please.
A.A: Who's speaking, please?
Caller: This is John Bush of Lion Computers.
A.A: Hold the line, please. I'll put you through. 

Don't just answer Hello! Give the name of the company. It might be helpful if you state your name and the name of the department, too. 

1. Here are some other phrases you can use. Put them in the correct order to make a conversation. 

A. Can I speak to Mr Martin, please?
B. One moment please, I'm putting you through.
C. John Bush of Lion Computers.
D. Accounts Department. Can I help you?
E. Who's calling?

2. Complete the sentences with the words or phrases below. Use each only once. 

after - back - calling - hold the line - in - moment - reach - ring up - see

A. Hello, who's that ___?
B. Just a ___, please. 
C. I'll ___ if she's here.
D. I'll get the information you want, ___ , please. 
E. Sorry, he is not ___ at the moment.
F. You can ___ him any evening after six o'clock.
G. Well, I can ring ___ later if it's convenient. 

3. Choose the best responses. 

1. I'd like to speak to Mr Kahn, please. 
a) Yes.
b) I'm afraid he's not here at the moment.
c) Well, you can't.

2. Can I speak to Mr Kahn, please?
a) Hold on, please. 
b) Don't go away.
c) All right. 

3. Could I speak to Mr Kahn, pleae?
a) Who's calling? 
b) Who are you?
c) What's your name?

4. When can I reach you?
a) One hour.
b) When you want.
c) I'll be in all evening.

How to respond to salary questions in a job interview

Answering questions in a job interview can be quite difficult. You don't want to give a wrong impression of being an over-ambitious or greedy kind of person, but you don't want to underestimate yourself, either. So, what can you answer to the question What do you feel this position should pay? (and similar ones)

Read the following article in time.com which gives you some advice by professionals.

 Click here for the article

There is a very short video to go with it, please watch it. 

Basically, you need to:

1. Research what the salary for that position is. Use internet pay scale sites or ask someone who you know can give you accurate information. 

2. You can try to deflect the question. This means trying to talk about something else, for example you may want to know more about job responsibilities. 

3. You can try to turn the question around by asking how much is budgeted for that position. 

4. If the interviewer keeps pressing, you need to give an answer. Here the importance of research becomes evident.

(5. If it is relevant, include bonus and/or benefits.)

GAD Homework 11th of December

Complete the conversation with a word or expression from a-j below. Copy the full conversation in your notebooks.

SWITCHBOARD: Portillo Electronics. (1)___________ you?

MARINA: Good morning. (2)___________ to Alan Blake, please.

SWITCHBOARD: Just a moment. (3)___________ to his department.

HANNAH: Customer Services.

MARINA: Hello. (4)___________ , please?

HANNAH: (5)___________ he's in a meeting.

MARINA: I see. (6)___________?

HANNAH: Yes, of course.

MARINA: Could you ask him (7)___________ as soon as possible? My name is Marina Prodi.

HANNAH: (8)___________ that for me?

MARINA: Sure, it's P-R-O-D-I. (9)___________ my number.

HANNAH: Ok, (10)___________ he gets message.


a. Would you mind spelling                        f. to call me back

b. I'm afraid                                                g. He's got

c. How can I help                                       h. Could I leave a message

d. Could I speak to Alan Blake                   i. I'll put you through

e. I'll make sure                                           j. I'd like to speak 


And just in case you were wondering...this is a switchboard (older and modern version): 

Homework GAD 7th November.

A little reminder of what I already asked you to do during the weekend last lesson:

Your homework this weekend is to prepare the role-play that puts an end to Unit 2. On Tuesday, we will spend the lesson acting them out. Remember, we will only devote ONE lesson to the role-plays and the corresponding corrections, so make sure you prepare them. 

On page 11 in your book, look at the Your Turn section. In pairs, you will act as a receptionist and a visitor. There are 6 different situations. So, student A will be the receptionist during the first 3 (1-3) situations and then the visitor for the others (4-6).

Student A: Receptionist 1, 2, 3. Visitor 4, 5, 6. 

Student B: Visitor 1, 2, 3. Receptionist 4, 5, 6. 

So, the first part of the role-play will be student B (visitor) asking student A (receptionist).

Part 1 of the role-play:

Visitor/Student B= Wants to have lunch in the cafeteria, has got a meeting with a technician in the lab and has got a meeting with the accountant. 

Receptionist/Student A= Must give Visitor/Student B directions. 

Look at exercise 2 on page 10 to help you. 

Example: 

A: Good morning, how can I help you?
B: Hello, I would like to have lunch in the cafeteria, where is it?
A: The cafeteria is ......
B: Ok, thank you. Also, I have a meeting with the technician in the lab, where can I find it?
A: The lab is.....
B: Thanks! Finally, I have a meeting with the accountant, too. Where should I go?
A: You should go to....
B: Thank you so much, you have been really helpful.
A: You're welcome.

This has been an example of Part 1 of the role-play. Now, you should do your own version and also Part 2. 

All of the information you need is on page 11. Remember that the aim of this exercise is to check that you know how to use and give directions in a building!

Tip: go to page 110, you have some useful vocabulary there. 

Have a nice weekend!

Homework AYF 6th November

Look at these examples of how to ask for information politely. 

You don't know the caller's name. (give)

Could you give me your name, please?

You aren't sure of the name of the caller's company. (repeat)

Would you repeat the name of your company, please?

You want to know where the caller is ringing from. (tell)

Can you tell me where you're ringing from, please?

Could and would are more formal than can. 

Now make questions using could, would and can in a similar way.

1. You aren't sure who the caller wants to speak to. (tell)

2. You want to know the caller's telephone number. (give)

3. You don't know the spelling of the caller's name. (spell)

4. You didn't hear the caller's address clearly. (repeat)

5. You don't know when the caller will be in the office tomorrow. (tell)

6. You aren't sure about your order's delivery date. (confirm)

Enjoy your weekend!

First Speaking Session

CARD 1
1. Are you a good dancer?
2. Are you a vegetarian?
3. Are you the oldest among your brothers and sisters?
4. At what times do you usually eat your meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)?
5. Can you play any musical instruments?
6. Can you ride a motorcycle?
7. Could you live in another country for the rest of your life?
8. Do you always eat dinner with your family?
9. Do you cook? If yes, what is food that you cook the most?
10. Do you do exercise?
11. Do you drive a car often?
12. Do you eat bread every day?
13. Do you eat breakfast every day?
14. Do you eat fruit every day?
15. Do you have a car?
16. Do you have any pets? If not, would you like to have a pet?
17. Do you have difficulty with school work?
18. Do you like British food?
19. Do you like food from other countries? If yes, which do you like the most?