Category Archives: BATX2

Love better

Source: GoodFreePhotos

I. On St. Valentine’s Day we celebrate love. In pairs, comment on the following questions.

– What do you think people do on this day?

– Do you do something special?

– Do the people you know do something special?

– Do you know people who are very romantic on St. Valentine’s day but they aren’t the rest of the year?

II. So, what is love? Watch the following advert and comment on the questions.

III. Read the following 12 signs you may be in a toxic relationship. In groups of four, discuss what makes a HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP and note it down.

Source: https://spinditty.com/playlists/Songs-About-Toxic-Love-Relationships
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Pau Tests (speech, presentation & promotional text).

So that you can practise writing, take the listening and reading tests:

SPEECH

You are the representative of your country before the United Nations Organization (UNO). Write a speech addressed to the UNO general delegates denouncing the resurgence of slavery. (June 2008 S5) Reading & Listening Test / Answers / Audio File

PRESENTATION

You are an Erasmus student at the University of Bergen (Norway). One professor asks you to talk to your class about the Catalan language and culture. Write the text of your presentation. (June 2006 S1) Reading & Listening Test / Answers / Audio File

PROMOTIONAL TEXT

Imagine you are working for the Namibia Tourist Board. Write a text for a promotional campaign addressed to Europeans with the title: “Come to experience the real Africa in the Kunene region”. (Sept 2012 S4)

Text types: a speech

A SPEECH

Before writing a speech, you need to take into account the following aspects:

  • WHO you are writing your speech for (the audience).
  • WHAT your speech is going to be about (its topic).
    – the main points ranked in order of importance with supporting research.
  • HOW long it needs to be.

The structure of a speech is simple. It consists of three parts:

  1. an opening or introduction.
  2. the body where all the information is given.
  3. and an ending (or summary).

Let’s go through the different steps you need to follow to write your speech:

STEP 1 – THE AUDIENCE

  • Identify the people who are going to be listening to you. Imagine them sitting in front of you waiting for listening to you.

STEP 2 – WRITING AS YOU SPEAK

  • Note down the main ideas you want to give in your speech. Organise them and write down what you’d say as if you were talking directly to them.

STEP 3 – CHECKING

  • Check the “tone” of your language.
    Is it right for the occasion, subject matter and your audience?
  • Check the length of your sentences.
    If they’re too long or complicated you risk losing your listeners.
  • Have you chosen words your audience will understand?
  • Remember you are writing “oral language”.
    You are writing as if you were explaining, telling or showing something to someone. It doesn’t have to be perfect sentences. We don’t talk like that.

STEP 4 – THE OPENING

The answer is to capture their interest straight away. You do this with a “hook”. Hooks come in as many forms as there are speeches and audiences. Your task is work out what the specific hook is to catch your audience. 

Go back to the purpose. Why are you giving this speech? Once you have your answer, consider your call to action. What do you want the audience to do as a result of listening to you? Next think about the imaginary or real person you wrote for when you were focusing on your main ideas.

STEP 5 – THE ENDING

The ideal ending is highly memorable. You want it to live on in the minds of your listeners long after your speech is finished. Often it combines a call to action with a summary of major points.

Source: Write Out Loud

WRITING TASK

  1. You are the representative of your country before the United Nations Organization (UNO). Write a speech addressed to the UNO general delegates denouncing the resurgence of slavery. (June 2008 S5)
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Juliet

ROMEO AND JULIET

John William Waterhouse -“Juliet”

I. Have you ever seen a play by Shakespeare? Have you read any of his works? What do you know about Romeo & Juliet?

II. What do teenagers find so compelling about Romeo and Juliet? British actor Jade Anouka explains what British teenagers taught her about playing Juliet. Listen to the video and then listen again and do the tasks below.

III. Juliet is just like teenage girls today! Jade Anouka explains the insights she gained from playing Juliet in the Middle East. Listen to the video and then listen again and do the tasks below.

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Unexpected events with Benjamin Button (Conditionals)

“Sometimes we’re on a collision course, and we just don’t know it. Whether it’s by accident or by design, there’s not a thing we can do about it.”         

– The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – 

1. In this clip, Benjamin explains a series of unexpected events. Watch the clip and answer the following questions: 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5TnWczvk-Y[/youtube]

What would have happened if:

  • the delivery truck hadn’t moved?
  • the package hadn’t been wrapped?
  • the girl hadn’t broken up with her boyfriend?
  • the man hadn’t forgot to set the alarm?
  • the taxi driver hadn’t stopped for a cup of coffee?
  • the woman hadn’t remembered her coat?

2. Watch the video again and note down the chronological events.

3. In pairs, reconstruct the story and retell it in pairs.  

ctivity created by María Márquez]

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